Arsenal fans could not sleep. Every night they were glued to their phones, hoping for news that would change everything for their club. Summer was the season of dreams and heartbreak, the time when all the papers filled with stories of big moves, stunning turnarounds, betrayals, and hopes reborn. But this time, the rumors felt different. Because this time, the name was Rodrygo. Not just any player. Not some random backup option. But Rodrygo Goes—the Brazilian wizard who had danced through the toughest defenses in Spain and Europe with that cool, almost arrogant grace that made fans whisper his name in fear and wonder.
All over north London, people were talking. At the pub, on the bus, in crowded tube stations packed with red shirts, the debate raged. Could Arsenal really get him? Would Real Madrid actually let him go? Was Andrea Berta, Arsenal’s new transfer chief, brave enough to go for the biggest fish in the sea? And above all, did Mikel Arteta even want him? Or was it all just noise to keep supporters buying shirts and season tickets?
Meanwhile, across the continent, Real Madrid themselves were sharpening their knives for another massive summer. Mbappe had arrived, his face on every billboard in Madrid, promising a new era of Galacticos. Endrick was waiting in the wings, the teenager hyped as the next Pelé. Vinicius Jr was already the star, their golden boy on the left. And in the middle of it all was Rodrygo—talented, loyal, hardworking, but suddenly the odd man out. The club loved him, but business was business. If they needed funds for their next big move—someone had to go. And Rodrygo, with his £70 million price tag, was the obvious choice.
But selling a player like Rodrygo was never going to be simple. He wasn’t just another squad player to be moved around like a chess piece. He had history with Madrid. He had scored in Champions League semifinals. He had turned games on their head in seconds. The Bernabeu adored him for those nights when the impossible happened and Rodrygo was in the center of it, arms raised, eyes closed, feeling the roar of 80,000 people calling his name. Selling him meant admitting the squad was changing forever. That the new Madrid was ready to leave the old heroes behind.
As the Madrid press began to churn out stories about the club’s spending spree, the speculation around Rodrygo intensified. At first it was small stories, just hints: “Rodrygo may seek more minutes.” Then stronger ones: “Real Madrid open to offers.” Soon it was everywhere: “Arsenal prepare move for Real Madrid star.” The Spanish journalists spoke of Arsenal’s interest as if it was a fact, even before the club had bid a single euro.
And at Arsenal, people noticed. This was not the same Arsenal that used to settle for cheap fixes and free transfers at the end of the window. This was a club that had spent over £100 million on Declan Rice. That had fought tooth and nail to sign Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber, Gabriel Jesus. Under Mikel Arteta and Edu, they were building a new team, a team that wanted to be champions again. And now Andrea Berta, the transfer genius from Atletico Madrid, was in charge of making those deals happen.
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Inside the Arsenal offices at London Colney, there was excitement. Rodrygo was perfect. He wasn’t just a talented player; he was a star. He had 68 goals and 51 assists for Real Madrid. He could play on the right, on the left, even as a striker. He was fast, technical, clever, hard-working. He was only 24 years old. In football terms, that was the age when you were ready to explode, to become a legend.
But it wasn’t just about stats. Arteta loved players like Rodrygo because of how they played the game. Smart. Selfless. Ruthless when needed. He wanted players who could adapt, who wouldn’t complain if asked to defend, who would work for the team, but who could also change a game with a single flick of their boot. Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo’s teammate at Madrid, had said it himself: “Rodrygo is so underrated. He’s probably the most talented and gifted player in the squad. The things he can do with the ball are crazy. And he sacrifices so much for the team.”
That quote alone circulated among Arsenal fans like holy scripture. They posted it everywhere—on Twitter, on Reddit, in group chats. “Look at what Bellingham said! He’s our dream signing!” they wrote, convincing themselves it was only a matter of time.
But football deals are rarely easy. Real Madrid was not going to just gift him to Arsenal. They wanted more than £70 million. Some said £80 million. Some said they would hold out for £90 million if other clubs joined the race. And that was the big fear in north London: Chelsea was lurking, their billionaire owner eager to hijack any deal. Manchester United was always in the background too, throwing money at every problem. Even PSG was said to be monitoring the situation. For Arsenal, time was precious. If they hesitated, someone else would swoop in.
Meanwhile, the Arsenal fanbase was restless. Liverpool had already signed Florian Wirtz for £116 million, a massive move that showed their ambition. City was always buying. United too. But Arsenal? So far, nothing official. Rumors, yes. Agreements close, yes. But nothing announced. Martin Zubimendi was supposed to be close to signing. Benjamin Sesko or Viktor Gyokeres were reportedly being negotiated for the striker role. But fans didn’t want “close.” They wanted “done deal.”
Journalists had a field day. Every day brought new angles. “Arsenal preparing bid for Rodrygo.” “Real Madrid open to negotiations.” “Rodrygo wants Premier League move.” “Arsenal make contact with agent.” Some stories contradicted others. Some quoted “sources close to the deal.” Some were pure guesswork. But all of them fed the hype.
Arteta, for his part, stayed silent. He was never one to discuss transfers in public. But those close to him said he was keen. Very keen. He knew his attack needed something extra. Bukayo Saka was world-class on the right, yes, but he was overworked, carrying too much of the creative burden. Gabriel Martinelli was explosive on the left but could be inconsistent. Leandro Trossard was a smart option but not elite. And in big Champions League ties, you needed magic. You needed a player who could score when nothing else was working. That was what Rodrygo offered.
The Brazilian wasn’t just a winger. He was a big-game player. He had faced the best defenders in the world and beaten them. He had scored against City, against Chelsea, against Liverpool. He had scored in Champions League finals. When the moment was huge, he thrived. That was what Arteta wanted in his squad: not just talent, but bravery. Fearlessness. Players who wouldn’t freeze under pressure.
At Real Madrid, there was a quiet sadness about it all. Rodrygo was popular with the squad. He worked hard, didn’t complain, helped teammates. He was the player who would run back 30 meters to defend even if he preferred attacking. Bellingham had praised that part of his game. Carlo Ancelotti liked him. But Madrid was a machine that never stopped moving. If they wanted Mbappe and Endrick and kept Vinicius Jr, there simply weren’t enough minutes to go around. Selling Rodrygo was the price of progress.
And Rodrygo himself? Reports said he was open to a move. Not because he hated Madrid. Not because he wanted more money. But because he wanted to play. Every week. Big games. Important minutes. He didn’t want to be a rotation piece, coming off the bench for 20 minutes. At 24, he wanted to be a star. And if Madrid couldn’t offer that anymore, maybe it was time to go.
Arsenal offered him a project. Not just a team. A project. A chance to be the man who brought the Premier League title back to north London after decades. A chance to be the hero of the Emirates. To play every week. To challenge for the Champions League with a young, hungry squad. And London itself—vibrant, international, full of Brazilians—was an easy sell.
Andrea Berta’s role in all this as crucial. He had joined Arsenal with a reputation for pulling off smart deals, for being tough but fair in negotiations. He wasn’t going to panic and throw £100 million at Madrid straight away. But he also understood time was important. Wait too long, and Chelsea or United might blow Arsenal away with a bigger offer. So Berta worked quietly. He met with agents. He spoke to intermediaries. He sounded out Madrid’s demands. He kept Arteta informed. He planned.
Meanwhile, Arsenal fans waited. They refreshed their feeds. They scrolled through endless “Here we go soon?” tweets. They debated lineups. “If we get Rodrygo, where does he play? Does he bench Saka? Does he move Martinelli to the striker role? Can we afford him and Sesko?” Everyone was a fantasy manager, imagining dream scenarios. Everyone had an opinion.
And the Arsenal players noticed too. They might not say much in public, but they watched the news. They knew what a signing like Rodrygo would mean. It wasn’t just about improving the squad. It was about sending a message to the world: Arsenal is here to stay. We’re not just challengers. We’re champions-in-waiting. And we’re willing to pay big money to prove it.
Opposition fans, of course, mocked them. “Arsenal will bottle it like always,” they wrote in comment sections. “Rodrygo won’t choose them. He’ll go to a real club.” But Arsenal supporters were used to that. They had heard it all before. And they remembered last season, when they pushed City to the brink, when they proved they weren’t the old Arsenal anymore. They wanted to believe this was the next step.
The club itself understood the pressure. Kroenke’s ownership had been criticized for years for not spending enough. Now they were spending. And they knew they needed to keep spending to stay at the top. Rodrygo wasn’t a luxury buy. He was a statement. He was the difference between being title challengers and being title favorites.
As the days passed, the rumor mill only grew hotter. Spanish newspapers claimed Madrid had given the green light to a sale. English ones said Arsenal were preparing a bid. Italian journalists suggested Berta was talking to the player’s camp. Brazilian media speculated Rodrygo was excited by the idea. No one knew for sure. But everyone felt it in the air: something was happening.
And Rodrygo? He stayed quiet in public. No dramatic interviews. No hints on Instagram. Just training. Playing. Smiling with his teammates. But those who knew him said he was thinking about it. He loved Madrid, but he was realistic. He knew he might never be the main man there. And Arsenal? Arsenal wanted him to be the main man. That was tempting.
Meanwhile, Arteta planned. He watched videos. He made notes. He imagined lineups. He called Berta and discussed options. He knew the fans were desperate. But he also knew transfers weren’t decided by Twitter polls. They took time. Patience. Strategy. But in the end, he wanted Rodrygo. And when Arteta wanted someone, Arsenal usually found a way. The summer dragged on. Fans checked their phones at work. Whispered about it at barbecues. Debated it in cafes. “Any news?” “He’s coming, right?” “Surely we won’t mess this up.” And all the while, the club worked behind closed doors.
Because in football, that’s how dreams come true. Not with hype. Not with clickbait. But with hours of negotiation. With patience. With belief. Arsenal had that belief now. And they knew if they got Rodrygo, it wouldn’t just be a signing. It would be a signal to the world that Arsenal was back. Not just to compete. But to win.
