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Rodrygo has already named ‘the best’ club in England and it wasn’t Arsenal
By most accounts, Arsenal would absolutely love to sign Real Madrid star Rodrygo this summer.
Mikel Arteta has recognised that his forward line is somewhat lopsided at Arsenal right now in terms of quality.
Arsenal don’t have a player who can match Bukayo Saka’s efforts on the right, even if the likes of Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli often give it their best effort.
As a result, Arsenal want to recruit a new striker and a left winger, and whilst the club are toiling between either Benjamin Sesko or Viktor Gyokeres for the number nine role, there’s a bit more clarity on the left.
Rodrygo is Arsenal’s main target and sporting director Andrea Berta has already put a ton of work into a deal for the Brazilian, who is uncertain about his future in the Spanish capital.
Rodrygo once called Manchester City the ‘best team in the world’
As things stand, most Arsenal fans would understandably be delighted to see Rodrygo arrive in N5 — the kind of superstar signing they’ve been craving.
However, something Rodrygo said in an interview with in Spain might not sit well with some Arsenal supporters, even if it is true.
Speaking in May of last year, Rodrygo claimed that Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side were the best team in the world, let alone in Europe.
READ MORE: Gabriel Martinelli opens door to Arsenal exit after Bayern Munich make contact to sign the Brazilian
Real Madrid had just edged past Man City on penalties en route to the Champions League final, but Rodrygo admitted that the better side had lost.
Praising Man City after Real Madrid’s 4-4 draw on aggregate, Rodrygo said: “To be honest, we knew they were better. For me, they’re the best team in the world, the one that plays the best football.”
Perhaps Rodrygo wouldn’t say the same thing after the ensuing 2024/25 season, when City weren’t at their best by any means, but they’re still comments that might perk the ears of Arsenal fans.
Jude Bellingham has explained why Arsenal should do everything to sign Rodrygo
Of course Arsenal fans should not be at all put off by those words in reality, even if they might not be too easy to read.
Rodrygo is definitely a player who can help elevate Mikel Arteta’s side to that level of conversation, as Jude Bellingham inadvertently explained in an interview with CBS Sports earlier this year.
Bellingham described Rodrygo as ‘underrated’ and his praise proved exactly why Arsenal should do everything to sign the Brazilian.
Bellingham said: “Rodrygo, so underrated. For me he’s probably the most talented and most gifted player in the squad.
“The things he can do with the football — we’ll be messing around and he’ll flick the ball up somehow and you’re like, ‘How do you do that?’.
“I’m trying to do it, twisting up my ankles and everything like that. He’s a pleasure to play with.”
Arsenal will be aware that the opportunity to sign a player of Rodrygo’s quality doesn’t come around too often.
And there’s now increased confidence that Real might sell Rodrygo owing to his awkward squad situation.