Gilberto Silva has urged Arsenal to reignite their transfer interest in Rodrygo because the Real Madrid forward continues to struggle for minutes under Xabi Alonso.
The Brazil international was heavily linked with an exit from Real over the summer, but opted to remain on the Bernabeu after talks with recent boss Alonso.
Arsenal and Chelsea were among the many clubs linked with the versatile forward, while Manchester City were also said to have considered a move had they sold Savinho to Tottenham.
Despite opting to remain in Spain over the summer, Rodrygo has found regular minutes hard to come back by, starting just two of Real’s first 12 La Liga games to date this season.
That lack of game time has reignited speculation surrounding Rodrygo’s long-term future at Real, with reports in Brazil crediting Chelsea with interest in a deal for the the 24-year-old.
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And former Arsenal midfielder Silva believes the Gunners should reignite their very own interest in Rodrygo, who would likely still cost around €80million (£70m).
‘I do know him and we’ve met a few times, but I don’t know his situation with Arsenal,’ Silva told talkSPORT.
‘In the beginning of the season, I assumed it could be implausible to have Rodrygo on the club.
‘It is obvious he is not going to have much of a possibility to play under Xabi Alonso at Madrid, but he’s an amazing player with real talent, which is a waste if he’s on the bench – but obviously there may be big competition at Arsenal as well.
‘He’s got the flexibility to perform not only from the left side but in other positions across the forward line as well.
‘Should Arsenal go in for him? Why not. If he’s not blissful and there may be a possibility to extend the strength of the squad, then we are able to attempt to get him.’
Silva, though, questioned whether Arsenal’s supreme depth in wide areas might make a move to the Emirates less appealing for Rodrygo.
Mikel Arteta’s side added Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke over the summer, while Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard stayed on the clubs despite each being linked with exits.
‘The one query is, where would he fit?’ Silva noted. ‘Possibly just a few years ago, it could have been much easier to search out a great player to suit that Arsenal squad.
‘Nonetheless, nowadays, even if you happen to are a great player, it’s not really easy to search out a foundation on this current team.’
Speaking after the summer window, Rodryo insisted that he never felt any great desire to depart the club despite heavy speculation linking him with an exit.
‘Every summer, the identical thing happens to me. Whether I’m going to depart or whether I actually have offers from this club or that,’ he told the Spanish publication AS.
‘Every week, I used to be in a team if I paid attention to what was published. In fact, there are at all times offers; I’m not going to lie about that.
‘But I at all times made it clear to the club that I would like to proceed succeeding here, even greater than I have already got. It’s rather a lot to have won two Champions Leagues at my age, but now I would like more European Cups on this shirt.
‘I’ve at all times said: ‘So long as Real Madrid wants me, I’ll be here.’ If at some point Real Madrid says to me: ‘Rodry, discover a team,’ I’ll say ‘OK.’ But that hasn’t happened. The club has at all times told me they count on me.
‘And after I had an issue, they were there for me. People speculated because I kept quiet. But I knew what I used to be going to do that season with Real Madrid and that I’m going to be focused on giving my best. It hasn’t bothered me. I used to be calm, and here I’m… as at all times. That is my seventh season.’
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