5 Real Madrid players with a point to prove next season
Real Madrid dominated the 2021/22 season, winning both the La Liga and the Champions League. Many players shone to the best of their ability throughout the run to these triumphs, and practically every player in the team had an outstanding individual season, with those who did not being sold or placed on the transfer list.
Some players from each of the aforementioned categories will enter the following season with increased responsibility and a point to prove in order to make their argument even stronger, or at least significant.
More than just a point to prove, I believe these players have a chance that many do not have while playing for Real Madrid. It is now up to them to make the most of the opportunity that has been placed upon them or to let it slip away, risking losing the total faith of fans and the club.
Now, without further ado, let’s just get straight to it and see who these players are and what they need to prove:
5. Rodrygo Goes
Rodrygo made his Real Madrid debut as an 18-year-old after signing for a record 45 million euros from Santos, a figure that raised many eyebrows for such a young player. However, it appears that some of the fire has gone off after his stellar Champions League performances.
Rodrygo struggled with consistency on the right-wing during the 2021/22 season, as he struggled to go past Asensio and generate tangible results when given the opportunities. However, as already stated, the Manchester City game transformed nearly everything for the youngster.
Two goals in two minutes propelling a downtrodden side to the Champions League final is an admirable feat, but it does little to address the issue of consistency that Rodrygo continues to struggle with. If anything, the burden on his shoulders grows as the club no longer counts on Asensio and a fresh signing on the right flank appears improbable for the time being.
Make no mistake, what I write does not undermine Rodrygo’s capabilities, but rather shifts the attention from the player’s celebratory limelight to practical conundrums that still need to be solved.
Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo’s counterpart, had a similar 2020/21 season in which he excelled in the latter stages of the Champions League before exploding in the 2021/22 season, and if all goes well, Rodrygo will undoubtedly follow in his footsteps and find the much-needed consistency to be the star everyone is waiting to see.