Rodrygo appears to be following a trajectory similar to Vinícius Junior at Real Madrid. On a Tuesday, the club confirmed his renewal, and the plan for a similar renewal for Vinícius soon followed. Both players carry a staggering €1,000 million release clause. Rodrygo, however, extended his stay by one more season, committing to Real Madrid through 2028.
This Thursday, the attacker visited the club’s offices to participate in the traditional contract-extension ceremony. He signed documents in the presence of the president, Florentino Pérez, posed for photographs in the trophy room, and stood alone in a moment that highlighted his new banner reading Rodrygo 2028.
Valverde, Camavinga and Militao, below
As has been the pattern lately at Real Madrid, negotiations had extended over several weeks, with the away game of announcing the news left to be decided. Fede Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, and the recently sidelined Eder Militao are expected to be the next players to pass through the club offices to formalize new agreements and extend their ties with the white club.
Rodrygo’s renewal was shared through Real Madrid’s official channels, and the club confirmed the development with a post highlighting the shared commitment and the upcoming era of the squad. The moment captured a growing sense of continuity for the team as it prepared to build around its young talent.
Rodrygo will therefore carry a collateral guarantee for the full term of his contract. He has spent nine seasons at Real Madrid since arriving from Brazil’s Santos in the summer of 2019, when the transfer fee was around 45 million euros. He was eighteen at the time and was seen as one of the club’s long term bets alongside assets like Vinícius and Reinier, a name that has since faded from the limelight.
He began with Real Madrid Castilla but appeared in only three matches for the reserve side. Raúl González Blanco eventually pressed for him to rise to the first team as Zidane sought options to balance limited minutes for stalwarts such as Gareth Bale, Eden Hazard, Luka Jović and Isco Alarcón.
Champions and Rodrygo
His definitive breakout arrived in the 2021-22 season, his third year with the senior squad. That campaign featured five goals in all competitions, including two decisive strikes in the epic comeback against Manchester City in the Champions League semifinal and another that turned Chelsea in the quarterfinals. Madrid closed that season with European glory, lifting the trophy for the fourteenth time in club history.
The summer that followed brought big changes as Karim Benzema moved to Saudi Arabia, and Rodrygo’s role within the lineup grew accordingly. He emerged as one of the few reliable frontline options for Carlo Ancelotti, who continued to explore how best to deploy him in a central forward role. The coach has shown faith in Rodrygo even as he has emphasized that the center-forward position might not be his natural fit, preferring to keep experimenting with Joselu and other options in attack.
Looking at the current season, the production has been modest but steady. A couple of goals stands out: one on the opening day of La Liga against Athletic Bilbao in San Mamés, and another during the Champions League visit to Braga. Ancelotti has expressed satisfaction with Rodrygo’s overall impact, even as the forward’s personal numbers frame a quieter tally than some supporters might expect. The versatility he brings — speed, dribbling, and intelligent positioning — continues to be a valued element for Real Madrid.