Real Madrid have won the jackpot in Fede Valverde and Rodrygo, both of whom have already begun to establish their value and define the madridismo they carry deep within. The two youngsters are undoubtedly among the finest in the world in their respective positions, and watching them build the future generation at Real Madrid is a sight to behold.
While Valverde gained much of his momentum and fame a few seasons ago, Rodrygo finally showed flashes of a breakout season a few weeks ago, and the two have erupted this season as the squad’s finest players thus far.
The Uruguayan and Brazilian were the standout performers in Real Madrid’s game against Mallorca, and they carried that momentum into the Champions League.
During Ancelotti’s second term at Real Madrid, Valverde was struggling to obtain the playing time he desired, but thankfully, the right flank exhibited some major deficiencies and the Italian coach found the proper location to suit Valverde. Meanwhile, Rodrygo was still a super sub, and it goes without saying how brilliantly he performed in that capacity, which gained him Ancelotti’s trust and led to his current breakout.
Real Madrid: 2 roles where Fede Valverde and Rodrygo can excel together
The skill that these two players have is too great to ignore and allow go to waste. The question that has persisted is what places would be ideal for them so that they don’t overlap and can work together to bring out the best in each other.
In this article, we’ve attempted to present two ideal positional combinations where Rodrygo and Valverde might each contribute to the team’s success while also thriving together.
1. Rodrygo as backup striker and Fede Valverde as right winger
Valverde demonstrates his versatility by playing in whatever capacity that the team and scenario require. He simply dominates every position he plays, as though he had always been a natural there.
Under Valverde, the right flank is incredibly productive and plays a key role in the offensive progression. Ancelotti has given the youngster the green light to play in the position after he demonstrated remarkable character and talent in the area.
Initially, this added some more competition for Rodrygo on the wing, but luck has been quite kind to him recently. With Karim Benzema injured and unavailable for a few more games, Rodrygo could be seen in a striker role rather than on the wing, and his performance against Real Betis demonstrated how well the centre role fits his repertoire.
The Brazilian’s goal that game was assisted by Valverde, showcasing how the two are meant to play together rather than in lieu of one other.
Against RB Leipzig, a frontline of Vinicius-Rodrygo-Valverde was employed, which looked wobbly at first but is understandable given that it was the trio’s first game together. While Valverde scored a goal, Rodrygo looked impressive.
The two players have a great chemistry and can frequently be spotted chucking past opponents with some very audacious one-two passes.
Benzema is expected to miss the Madrid derby as well, and the same frontline might be seen against the Rojiblancos.