So, earlier this week, news dropped: Kylian Mbappe is out for three weeks. That’s a big blow for Real Madrid, especially with so many important games lined up in January.

Honestly, this whole situation didn’t have to happen. Mbappe skipped the Manchester City match, but then he played a full 90 minutes against a third-division team in the Copa del Rey just six days later. In between, he went the distance against Alaves. And then—another full match with Sevilla. It’s not hard to see how this could catch up with anyone.

You’d think this would be the perfect moment to have a Brazilian international striker available. But of course, Madrid just loaned him out to Lyon in Ligue 1. So, Xabi Alonso’s got some thinking to do. He’s got to figure out how to keep things rolling without his superstar.

So, what now? What should Real Madrid actually do without Mbappe?

First idea: play a real number nine—Gonzalo Garcia. In a recent chat with Diario AS, a former Real Madrid striker pointed out the obvious: the team misses having a classic centre-forward. Garcia could be that guy. He showed what he can do at the Club World Cup, bagging four goals and an assist. He connected really well with Vinicius, especially in games against Al Hilal and Juventus. That was the first time since Benzema left that Vinicius had a real target man to play off consistently.

People talk a lot about Endrick not getting minutes, but let’s be real—Garcia hasn’t had much of a shot either. He’s only played 365 minutes this season, which is barely over four games’ worth. Alonso should be thinking about giving him more time.

There’s also the option of going back to what worked in 23/24: the hybrid front three with Vinicius, Jude Bellingham, and Rodrygo. For most of that season, Bellingham played as a number ten, with Vinicius and Rodrygo splitting striker duties in a diamond setup. Sometimes Bellingham shifted into a false nine role, with the Brazilians pushing wide and delivering balls into the box. The whole thing was super fluid, and it worked—both for the team and for the players themselves.

Sure, Alonso wasn’t in charge back then, and Mbappe wasn’t at the club. But you can bet Alonso knows how well that system performed. It’s got to be on his mind right now.

Then there’s the long shot: shifting Vinicius to a central position. Even though he’s been a left winger since Mbappe showed up, he’s drifted inside plenty of times. Under Ancelotti, he played more centrally, too, so maybe that’s an option over the next few weeks.

If Vinicius plays in the middle, Rodrygo can take his favoured spot on the left—even though he’s been doing well on the right lately. With Brahim Diaz away at AFCON, Franco Mastantuono could slot in on the right.

Or, you could flip it: Rodrygo has played as a central striker for club and country before. Move him to the middle, Vinicius on the left, and see what happens.

If you’re ranking options for Madrid right now, here’s how it shakes out: 1) Garcia up front, 2) Bellingham as a false nine with split strikers, 3) Vinicius as a false nine, 4) Rodrygo as a false nine.

Fresh reports out of Spain say Rodrygo’s time at Real Madrid is pretty much over. The Brazilian winger, once a star under Carlo Ancelotti, now looks set for a move, with Arsenal and Manchester City leading the race if he actually leaves.

Not that long ago, Rodrygo was flying. He helped Real Madrid win LaLiga, the Champions League, and the Spanish Super Cup just 18 months back—one of Ancelotti’s go-to guys. But things have changed fast. Since Xabi Alonso replaced Ancelotti, Rodrygo has dropped way down the pecking order. He’s only managed one goal and two assists in 16 LaLiga games this season. That’s a brutal dip for someone with his talent.

According to SPORT, Rodrygo and his dad—who’s acting as his agent—don’t want a repeat of last summer. Back then, Real blocked his move even though plenty of top clubs wanted him. Now, Rodrygo feels there’s “no going back.” With the January window open, he’s pushing to get out as soon as possible.

Right now, Arsenal and City look like his best bets, but Liverpool is still in the picture. They need a long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah, and Rodrygo’s on their radar. Still, City might be out of the running soon—they’re close to signing Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth, which would fill their attacking gap.

Rodrygo usually does his best work on the left wing. Liverpool could use someone there, but replacing Salah on the right is probably their bigger priority. That leaves Arsenal. They already have Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, and now Eberechi Eze on the left, so it’s a bit crowded. Whether Mikel Arteta wants to add another option is up in the air—and it might not matter if Real Madrid decides to dig their heels in again.

There’s another twist: Kylian Mbappé picked up a knee injury, which could mean Rodrygo has to stick around at Real Madrid a little longer. If he does leave, the club still wants around €100 million (£87m) for him. That’s a hefty price, especially since he hasn’t been matching last season’s form, but his contract runs until 2028.

And don’t forget PSG. They have the cash to swoop in and outbid any Premier League team if they want to.

So, while Rodrygo pushes for a way out, everyone’s watching Madrid this January to see what happens next.