Brazilian Clubs Circle Brian Rodríguez as Almada Asks to Be Left Alone

Three goals in three games and a hot streak that has him as the form player of Club America's attack. That's the situation Brian Rodríguez finds himself in at the busiest point of his transfer market, right as phones are ringing at Coapa from Brazil and Guillermo Almada asks, bluntly, to be left alone.

The Uruguayan, known as the 'Rayito', has received several offers and inquiries from Brazilian soccer in recent weeks, but none have convinced the Azulcrema front office so far. The first to surface was from Cruzeiro, which was looking for a full sale of the player, though the Brazilians themselves ended up pulling out of the negotiation. Then came Vasco da Gama, which wanted to acquire 60% of his rights, but the proposal fell short for America, who are waiting for a counteroffer north of $10 million before sitting down to negotiate seriously.

Amid all the noise, Almada's coaching staff has already made it clear to the front office that they'd rather keep Rodríguez. The coach knows full well that, given his skill set, other clubs are going to keep watching him, but he also understands that losing his best attacking piece in the middle of the Liga MX season and Leagues Cup doesn't suit the project.

Almada Shuts Down the Rumors

With speculation growing, Almada himself stepped in to tone things down. True to his direct style, the Uruguayan coach made clear that nobody in the front office has said anything to him about a possible exit for his countryman.

The truth is I go by facts, by what's actually communicated to me. I don't buy into press rumors. At America, things move fast, but I'll say it again: the board hasn't told me he's leaving. I'm not speaking on anything that hasn't been told to me directly.Guillermo Almada

The coach was even clearer about how much he values the player within the team:

Brian is with us. There's no doubt he's a desirable player given the quality he has, but the truth is I don't operate based on media rumors. Nothing has been communicated to me about the possibility of him leaving.Guillermo Almada

Meanwhile, Rodríguez's agent, Edgardo Lasalvia, is planning to travel to Mexico to meet with America's front office and get a firsthand look at the details of the offers that have come in for his client. The agent will be at Coapa with Brian as soon as the squad returns from the United States, once the first phase of the Leagues Cup wraps up.

No decision has been made yet, but that visit will be key in shaping the immediate future of the Uruguayan, who is under contract with America through the summer of 2029. What's clear is that Rodríguez is going through his best stretch since returning from the World Cup, where he saw little playing time, and he has now become a key figure for Las Aguilas. That form is precisely what complicates any quick exit: it's hard to imagine Almada letting go of his best attacking piece right when he needs it most.