Alvaro Arbeloa made the bold call to keep Franco Mastantuono as his starting right winger in Real Madrid's last-gasp 2-1 win against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday. The Spaniard had Rodrygo available, but the Brazilian had to settle for a place on the bench.
Madrid came into the game off the back of a calamitous 4-2 defeat to Benfica in the Champions League midweek. It was vital Arbeloa's men bounced back especially after Barcelona extended their lead at the top of La Liga to four points on Saturday.
Mastantuono put in an unconvincing performance in the loss to Benfica and many assumed Arbeloa might opt to bring Rodrygo into his starting lineup. That wasn't the case whether that be because the Brazilian isn't ready to play a full 90 minutes or tactical reasons.
Arbeloa's costly Rodrygo decision
Mastantuono didn't even last the full 90 minutes but it wasn't Rodrygo who he came off for but Gonzalo Garcia. The Argentine failed to impress out on the right, completing none of three dribble attempts, making two unsuccessful touches and winning four of seven ground duels.
Rodrygo had been on a run of three goals in three games before he was sidelined with an injury after a 3-2 loss to Barcelona in the Supercopa de Espana final. There were doubts about the Brazilian's future last summer when he didn't feature in a single FIFA Club World Cup game.
The 25-year-old played his way back into the team and became one of Xabi Alonso's most important players. But it's clear that Madridistas felt he should have started against Vallecano after Mastantuono's display away at Benfica.
A Madrid win kept the team's La Liga title hopes alive. Vinicius Junior gave the hosts the lead in the first half in front of a hostile Bernabeu before Jorge de Frutos equalized in the second half.
Rodrygo had to wait until the 77th minute to enter the fray as Arebaloa searched for a much-needed winner. He came on for Arda Guler and was his manager's fifth and final substitution.
Madrid sealed all three points right at the death after Vallecano had gone down to ten men earlier in the second half. Kylian Mbappe struck from the penalty spot.
Fans advise Rodrygo to leave
Rodrygo's second game back from injury saw him start on the bench and this didn't go unnoticed by fans. One suggested he push to leave the club if he's playing second fiddle to Mastantuono:
"If I was Rodrygo I would've handed over the transfer request and leave the club in summer. Getting benched for Mastantuono is an insult."
Another was bemused by Arbeloa's decision not to start Rodrygo today:
"I wanted to see Rodrygo start today after that performance by Mastantuono vs Benfica. Rodrygo has 3 goals and 3 assists in his last 6 starts. It's getting unfair for him again."
One supporter alluded to the handling of the Brazilian:
"Bench Rodrygo and make sure he’s the first sub anytime we go two goals down, and only start him when your job is at stake."
Rodrygo will have two years left on his contract in the summer and there have been suggestions Madrid might consider his sale. Endrick's red-hot form out on loan at Lyon has led management to expect him to be a 'new signing' once he returns next season.