Real Madrid head Carlo Ancelotti says Rodrygo has assured him a WhatsApp message complaining about his role in the team was “fake”.
In the wake of Madrid’s Super Cup win over Atalanta, a number of Spanish media outlets heralded the start of the ‘BMV’ era — (Jude) Bellingham, Mbappe and Vinicius Junior — while Marca’s front page featured a photo of the trio in which Rodyrgo appeared to be cut out.
The Brazil forward, who has been linked with a move away from the Bernabeu in recent months, wrote in a now-deleted WhatsApp message, the Brazil forward wrote: “Last week, they talked about the trio of Bellingham, Mbappé and Vini (B-M-V), but they are going to have to add Rodrygo’s R to that acronym.”
He added: “We have a quartet of attackers and the rest of the team. Everyone has their importance in the matches and will show their value in the different competitions in which we participate.”
Rodrygo’s camp initially said the message had been deleted to avoid it being misinterpreted.
Speaking before Madrid’s match against Valladolid on Sunday, Ancelotti said he had sought clarity with Rodrygo over the post.
“I spoke to him this week and asked him if something had happened,” he said. “He told me that the message was fake. He is happy here and working very well.”
Ancelotti added: “He is happy, delighted because he is playing. It’s a subject that we don’t talk about because it hasn’t happened.”
“We all know what his qualities are. He contributed a lot against Atalanta, also with a goal against Mallorca. When we have an attacking team, the strikers have to work a little bit more (defensively). He is doing very well.”
Madrid return to action against Valladolid on Saturday.
(Pedro Salado/Getty Images)
