Real Madrid: 3 candidates to fully replace Gareth Bale at RW

Rodrygo

Rodrygo Goes, as we saw against Deportivo Alaves when he won a whopping six dribbles, is at his best on the left side of the formation. He can cut inside from there, he looks more confident taking on defenders there, and that has been his preferred position during his standout matches with Castilla this season.

The problem is that there’s not much room for Rodrygo on the left. Eden Hazard plays there, and Vinicius Junior has been just as good as Hazard this season on the left. And Vini isn’t nearly as good as Rodrygo is on the right.

So the right side has been Rodrygo’s spot for most of the 2019-2020 season. When Real Madrid were slicing through teams in the Fall, Rodrygo was a key starter in the front three alongside Hazard and Karim Benzema.

What stands out about Rodrygo on the right is his passing. He has completed nearly 88 percent of his passes in the Champions League and La Liga this season, earning all but two of his starts on the right side of the formation.

Rodrygo’s passing, technique, defending, and calmness make him a quality starter on the right, even if his potential is constrained when he can’t search for goals by cutting inside from the left. For that reason, Rodrygo has to be kept in mind as an option on that side, though the left-footed Marco Asensio is the more ideal pick.