Rodrygo Goes: Real Madrid’s star of tomorrow
By Hasan Karim
Real Madrid has a plethora of young promising talents on their books at present. With a futureproof squad being assembled, Madridista’s are excited about the prospect of the future eleven which will boast the likes of Vinicius Jr, Marcos Llorente, Odriozola – just to name a few. However, one talent that may be escaping the minds of some is 17-year-old Rodrygo Goes.
With Vinicius Jr having impressed in his few appearances since joining Madrid from Flamengo – Rodrygo’s deal has somewhat been forgotten about. Though, the Brazilian striker is having a very strong season in his native country which is definitely worth getting excited about.
In comparison to Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo has had a little more time to adjust to the difference of senior football. With the younger playing in the Santos first team this season, he has wasted little time in showing the world he is more than just a YouTube highlight reel – he looks the part.
Rodrygo is already a mainstay fixture in the Santos team this season and he’s definitely provided the goods in his first senior season so far – he may not be rocketing in absurd numbers, but he’s definitely putting in performances to turn heads. With 30 appearances so far, he has provided 8 goals and 3 assists for his team, a good return when you consider his tender age. Although, a deeper look into his stats shows for good reading. The player has 67 dribbles, the 9th best in the league and has so far created 37 chances for his teammates.
However, how does he currently compare with other Madrid players right now? The Santos forward is averaging 1.9 dribbles per game this season, that betters Bale (0.9), Vasquez (0.7) and Marco Asensio (1.3). Rodrygo is also playing on 1.5 key passes per 90, in comparison, Marco Asensio completes 1 per 90, Bale completes 0.8 and Lucas Vasquez completes 1 per 90.
Whilst the difference in league competition is something to consider, it certainly shows that Rodrygo is showing promising signs. A sentiment shared by Brazil coach, Tite. He feels that the player is showing an ability beyond his tender years in his decision making. Alongside this, he also has a great ability at getting between the lines, holding the ball and dribbling.
“It’s amazing how he makes decisions, his mental game is that of a player of 25. But he does not have physical strength yet. Vinicius does, although he’s more individualistic. But he seems to have a good head, he knows how to listen and evolve” said Tite.
With the Brazilian due to join Madrid in June – it will be exciting to see how he continues to develop over the coming months.