Real Madrid star Rodrygo could leave the club this summer. He should, too, not because he isn't a great player, but simply because there is no place for him in the team.
He deserves to be playing on the left, where he is most comfortable, and that will never happen at Real Madrid. The club just so happens to have the two best left-wingers on the planet already, and a player like Rodrygo is somehow third choice.
He should leave, and there is interest for him from the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool - although they are trying to sign Alexander Isak, which may mess up a move for Rodrygo.
Be that as it may, if he were to leave, the club should thank one former Real Madrid player for potentially boosting the Brazilian's value.
In a recent interview with AS, Jesus Vallejo was asked about who the most technically gifted player at Real Madrid is, and he gave a very interesting answer.
Too many players rate Rodrygo highly for him to be called 'overrated' by fans and haters
He said: "Rodrygo. In small-sided training sessions, he displayed tremendous talent. He fascinated me. (More than Vinicius and Mbappé) Yes. He's really good and has impressive footballing qualities."
That is not the first player to have said something along those lines for Rodrygo. Even Jude Bellingham, who is a superstar at Real Madrid, said the same thing about him to Thierry Henry a few months ago.
He said: “For me he’s probably the most talented and most gifted player in the squad. The things he can do with the football - we’ll be messing around and he’ll flick the ball up somehow and you’re like, ‘How do you do that?’.
"I’m trying to do it, twisting up my ankles and everything like that. He’s a pleasure to play with.”
These are words that help any sale. I mean, these are anecdotes from players who have played a lot alongside Rodrygo, they would know better than most just how talented he is.
Goals and assists aside, it is clear that the Brazilian has a lot of potential, and it is a shame that the potential will be realised somewhere else.