Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti answered a question about replacing Rodrygo and also announced a final decision on a player sale after Sunday’s 3-0 win over Real Valladolid.

Los Blancos moved up to third in La Liga after securing their first win of the season with an opening home game of the 2024/25 campaign.

Although he scored the only goal of the game in last week’s 1-1 draw at Mallorca, Rodrygo failed to score this time and was replaced by Luka Modric in the 69th minute.

Asked about a player who has been in the news since the strike and who many believe could be sold in the near future, Ancelotti stressed that the Brazilian “continues to develop” and “shows his personality”.

Ancelotti admitted that “it is difficult for me to say that he is a player who cannot be replaced in the squad”.

“His intelligence, his strength… it’s a blessing to have him,” he also added of the Santos academy product.

Kylian Mbappe also failed to score on his debut for the Bernabeu and has yet to score in La Liga for his new employer.

Still, Ancelotti praised his prospects, calling him “a spectacular striker, very fast, very good without the ball”.

“He attacks from the back… he has had three, four situations (to score). He doesn’t have to go left or right, in the end he will score goals,” Ancelotti predicted.

The one who can later say that he scored in his first match at the Bernabeu is Endrick.

Ancelotti noted that the former Palmeiras prodigy “looks very good” and “showed his qualities in his goal”.

“He is very powerful in his attacks, he is a central striker,” Ancelotti noted, which certainly gives No. 9 Mbappé food for thought.

Asked about the future of Andriy Lunin, who has been linked with a move away from the Spanish capital, Ancelotti confirmed that Thibaut Courtois’ replacement “will stay”.