Carlo Ancelotti, the outgoing Real Madrid boss, got candid about Rodrygo’s rough patch at the club. Speaking at a press conference before their LaLiga showdown with Mallorca on Wednesday night, the Italian coach shared that the 24-year-old Brazilian star is feeling down after picking up a leg injury.

Ancelotti explained that Rodrygo’s been under the weather, battling a fever that kept him from training last week. “He’s bummed out because of the leg issue,” Ancelotti said, quoted by Fabrizio Romano. “He wasn’t feeling great, so we’re checking it out to be safe.”

Despite the setback, Ancelotti made it clear he’s got a soft spot for the young forward, who came to Real Madrid from Brazilian side Santos back in 2019. “Rodrygo’s got everyone’s love here, especially mine,” he said with a smile, showing his support for the player as he works through this tough moment.

Xabi Alonso, the outgoing Bayer Leverkusen boss, is wasting no time after his exit. The 43-year-old Spaniard just announced he’s leaving Leverkusen at the end of the 2024/25 season, but instead of kicking back for a well-earned break, he’s diving straight into his next chapter with Real Madrid.

Alonso has inked a three-year deal to take the reins at the LaLiga powerhouse, stepping into the shoes of Carlo Ancelotti, who’s off to coach Brazil’s national team soon. According to a post from  @COPE on X, Alonso’s so eager to get started that he’s scrapping his vacation plans. His goal? Hit the ground running at the Santiago Bernabeu and get Los Blancos ready for the FIFA Club World Cup in June.

Argentina’s coach Lionel Scaloni just stirred the pot by naming the world’s best footballer—and it’s not his captain, Lionel Messi. While Scaloni insists Messi is in a league of his own, he pointed to a new generation of stars as the game’s current elite.

In a lively chat on Siro Lopez’s YouTube channel, Scaloni sidestepped Messi, calling him “one of a kind,” and instead shouted out Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Julián Álvarez, and Lautaro Martínez as the top dogs right now.

At 37, Messi’s still a force, racking up 10 goals and three assists in 15 matches for Inter Miami this season. With eight Ballon d’Ors and a record 46 trophies from his Barcelona and PSG days, the Argentine legend’s legacy is untouchable.