Rodrygo added to his scoring streak with Real Madrid on Wednesday but the Spanish powerhouse didn't get all the goals it needed to finish high enough in the league phase of the Champions League and avoid a possible encounter with Manchester City in the playoffs.

At the Santiago Bernabéu, the stance is firm. For years, Real Madrid has shielded its key players with contracts that include astronomical release clauses, designed to protect against state-backed clubs. This approach, implemented since 2018, aims to prevent any team from destabilizing their sporting plans with massive offers.