Real Madrid News
Real Madrid ready to sacrifice star forward for Liverpool flop in blockbuster swap deal
It is known that Rodrygo’s future at Real Madrid is becoming increasingly uncertain under Xabi Alonso.
The Brazilian forward, once considered a key figure in Madrid’s attack, is now finding himself on the fringes of the starting XI.
Despite his quality and versatility, Alonso’s tactical choices and recent squad rotations suggest that Rodrygo might not be a long-term part of the manager’s plans.
This situation has inevitably attracted interest from other European clubs, and it appears Liverpool could play a major role in his next career move.
What’s the story?
As per Defensa Central, Liverpool have been admirers of Rodrygo for quite some time, and Real Madrid are open to the idea of a swap deal involving the Reds’ summer signing, Florian Wirtz.
Although Wirtz has endured a difficult start to life in the Premier League, struggling to fully adapt to the physical demands and intensity of English football, he remains one of Europe’s most promising young playmakers.
Alonso is said to be a huge admirer of the German talent, viewing him as a player who could add creativity and balance to Real Madrid’s midfield, something he has been requesting since his arrival.
What about Liverpool?
For their part, Liverpool have always valued Rodrygo’s ability to operate across the frontline, and the Brazilian’s profile perfectly fits the style of football.
The idea of a direct exchange between the two players, therefore, seems mutually beneficial, even if it remains complex from a financial and contractual standpoint.
It is understood that Real Madrid had previously monitored Wirtz during his time in Germany but opted not to proceed due to the high asking price.
Ironically, the same player could now find his way to the Bernabeu through an unexpected route.
While nothing is final yet, the possibility of a Rodrygo–Wirtz swap deal could gain traction in the second half of the season.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. admits finishing problem after another frustrating night vs Elche: ‘Can’t miss that much’
Vinicius Jr.’s difficult start in front of goal continued against Elche, and the Real Madrid forward did not need anyone to tell him he had missed another chance to make the difference.
The Brazilian finished the night without a goal despite having chances to get on the scoresheet, while his teammates could only watch from the bench as opportunities went begging.
Jose Mourinho had already identified the problem before kick-off, bluntly pointing to the issue facing his forward, stating, “He’s missing the goal.”
Vini offered an equally frank assessment afterwards.
Rather than hide from another frustrating evening, he accepted responsibility on social media: “The goals will come back; I can’t miss that much…”
Two chances, no finish for Vinicius
Vinicius had two particularly clear openings against Elche, but neither produced the finish Real Madrid needed from their star forward.
The first arrived when he found himself one-on-one with the opposition goalkeeper.
Instead of finding the net, Vinicius caught the ball with the tip of his foot and sent his effort wide. Arda Guler was available during the move and called for the ball, but Vini backed himself to finish the chance.
He had another opportunity after the interval, this time following an excellent pass from Guler during a quick Real Madrid transition. Again, though, Vinicius could not find the target.
His evening ended in the 68th minute, with Mourinho deciding the Brazilian was tired and turning his attention towards Sunday’s Atletico Madrid derby.
Mourinho has a bigger decision to make
The numbers show why Vinicius’ finishing has become a talking point. He managed five shots against Elche, but only one was on target and none found the net.
After seven appearances this season, the Brazilian has scored just once, which is a striking return for a player Real Madrid rely upon to provide a major share of their attacking threat.
Ultimately, though, Real Madrid found another route to victory, with Arda Guler, Kylian Mbappe and Carlos Espi providing the goals in the 3-2 comeback.
Dale
November 9, 2025 at 3:07 pm
Story coming out of Liverpool this morning:
Liverpool are exploring the best way to approach Yasmine Lamal with a view to replacing Mo Salah for next season, the proposal will include a 6 year deal and put him on wages in excess of all but the top two earners at the club. Once this is agreed, the club will then make a proposal to Barcelona which may include a player going in the other direction. This is going to be massive