Rodrygo transfer race heats up: Arsenal edge Al-Nassr

Rodrygo transfer talks have exploded into life this week as Saudi outfit Al-Nassr push hard to lure the Real Madrid star to Riyadh, yet Premier League leaders Arsenal remain in pole position and could still win the battle.

Latest on the Rodrygo transfer tug-of-war

Spanish and Saudi sources confirm that Al-Nassr have delivered what amounts to a blank cheque to Rodrygo’s representatives. Club executives want their megastar Cristiano Ronaldo to have a lightning-quick partner in the final third and see the Brazilian as the perfect foil. The proposal includes wages of around £20 million per season, image-rights incentives and a multi-year contract that would instantly make the winger the highest-paid Brazilian in Middle-Eastern football.

Why Arsenal still lead the chase

Arsenal’s scouting department has monitored Rodrygo since his Santos days, and technical director Edu has already held preliminary talks with Madrid hierarchy. Unlike Al-Nassr, the Gunners can offer Champions League football, a title-challenging environment in England and the continued growth that comes with playing against Europe’s elite. Importantly, Rodrygo dreams of the Premier League and believes Mikel Arteta’s fluid front-three system complements his strengths better than Real Madrid’s current setup.

Real Madrid’s position: sell to fund Mbappé?

Los Blancos do not consider Rodrygo untouchable. While publicly they insist they want him to stay, privately the club knows that a fee in excess of €100 million would help bankroll their long-planned swoop for Kylian Mbappé. Carlo Ancelotti values Rodrygo’s versatility, but club president Florentino Pérez is pragmatic: if the player signals a desire to leave, Madrid will negotiate.

Al-Nassr’s financial firepower

Backed by Saudi’s Public Investment Fund, Al-Nassr have no issue meeting Madrid’s valuation. Their sporting director believes the commercial upside of reuniting two of football’s biggest social-media brands—Ronaldo and Rodrygo—would outweigh the fee. The Saudis are willing to match Madrid’s asking price in one installment, avoiding the staggered payments typical of European deals.

Arsenal’s strategy: patience and persuasion

Arsenal have been informed they must either meet Madrid’s price or offer a structured deal with achievable add-ons. Arteta is happy to wait until the summer window, confident few Premier League competitors can eclipse Arsenal’s overall package of Champions League exposure, London lifestyle and a clear development path. Sources in London say the Gunners are even ready to hand the Brazilian the iconic No. 11 shirt.

The Ronaldo factor in the Rodrygo transfer

Cristiano Ronaldo has personally telephoned Rodrygo twice over the past fortnight. The Portuguese legend pitched the Saudi Pro League’s growing competitiveness, top-class facilities and the opportunity to become the face of a team chasing continental glory. Yet friends close to Rodrygo reveal he remains hesitant to leave Europe at 25, fearing that a move east could hamper his spot in Brazil’s 2026 World Cup plans.

How the numbers stack up

• Al-Nassr wage offer: £380k per week after tax.
• Arsenal wage offer: £240k per week with performance bonuses.
• Madrid valuation: €100–110 million.
• Contract length: Al-Nassr five years, Arsenal five plus one option.
While the Saudi proposal doubles Arsenal’s salary figures, endorsements in London and Champions League bonuses could level the playing field over the lifetime of the deal.

Timeline to a decision

Madrid ideally want clarity before the summer to finalize their own forward additions. Arsenal plan to test the waters with an opening bid once the season concludes, whereas Al-Nassr are prepared to strike immediately if given encouragement. Expect decisive movement after the Copa América, where Rodrygo hopes a strong showing for Brazil will further raise his stock.

What the Rodrygo transfer would mean for each club

For Arsenal

Adding Rodrygo would allow Arteta to rotate Bukayo Saka more effectively, play Gabriel Martinelli centrally or deploy a devastating interchangeable trio. It would also reinforce Arsenal’s Brazilian core—Gabriel, Jesus, Martinelli and Caicedo—boosting dressing-room chemistry.

For Al-Nassr

The club would field one of Asia’s most marketable duos. Rodrygo’s pace stretching defenses beside Ronaldo’s finishing could propel Al-Nassr to AFC Champions League glory and elevate the league’s global profile.

For Real Madrid

Selling Rodrygo funds the Mbappé dream, opens minutes for emerging starlets like Arda Güler and Endrick (joining in 2024), and keeps wage structure manageable ahead of stadium repayments.

Potential obstacles

1. Premier League work-permit guidelines require high international game time, but Rodrygo’s Brazil caps meet the threshold.
2. Madrid might insist on a buy-back or first-refusal clause if Arsenal win the race.
3. FIFA’s updated regulations on multi-club investment could complicate Al-Nassr’s financing routes.

Our View: Who will win the Rodrygo transfer saga?

Although Al-Nassr’s financial muscle cannot be ignored, all signs point toward Rodrygo prioritizing sporting ambition over salary at this stage of his career. Arsenal’s project is peaking, Arteta wants a wide forward who can also play centrally, and Madrid are open to business as long as the fee meets expectations. Unless the Gunners hesitate on price, they remain favourites to sign the Brazilian, leaving Ronaldo to search elsewhere for his new strike partner.