West Ham exit: Guido Rodriguez cannot leave after 'Pathetic' incident

Dan is a sports writer and broadcaster, who wrote for Breaking Media Limited's club sites between May 2024 and May 2025. Graduating from the University of Huddersfield in 2018 with First Class Honours in Sports Journalism, Dan has worked with several EFL clubs, as well as with BBC Radio, talkSPORT and TNT Sports. He previously resided in Sydney, Australia, where he continued his career as a freelance writer and broadcaster in various sports.

Published on:

05 Jan 2025, 7:40 am

West Ham United cannot allow Guido Rodriguez to leave the London Stadium after what Edson Alvarez did against Manchester City on Saturday.

Alvarez ducked out of an aerial challenge in the build-up to City's opener just 10 minutes into the clash at the Etihad on 4 January, which ended 4-1 with Andy Gray calling it "shocking".

The Mexican has regularly played alongside Rodriguez under Julen Lopetegui, with the World Cup winner now strongly linked with a return to former club Real Betis [InfoRealBetis, 1 January].

Lopetegui remains unsure of his best team due to injuries, suspensions and underwhelming performances from too many players who have let him down, with his job under major threat.

West Ham must drop Alvarez for Rodriguez

Alvarez is a talented player. You do not rack up 83 caps for an established footballing nation like Mexico without the clear ability - but his actions for the opening goal at City were ridiculous.

This is a time at West Ham when everyone needs to pull together for not only their under-fire boss but the club and fans as a whole. Everything just seems disjointed, and it demonstrated a lack of commitment and a wonder of how deeply it runs.

Rodriguez has started only three league games since the start of November, the first of which saw him hooked at half-time, after a series of more regular starting calls towards the beginning of the campaign.

It appears Lopetegui has lost his patience with the Argentine and views him as unreliable, but cannot be trusting too many of his squad in that case.

West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui [Credit: Imago]

Rodriguez is unlikely to be too settled in London following his move, now with the role of a bit-part player, and was an unused substitute at City while Alvarez played 87 minutes.

It could be time for yet another selection reassessment, or an early farewell to Rodriguez from the East End.

In other West Ham news, Roshane Thomas delivers the latest sack update on Lopetegui.

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West Ham United

Guido Rodriguez

Edson Alvarez