Chema Andres will be the perfect Rodri replacement before the Spaniard has even arrived at Real Madrid.
Real Madrid have been in negotiations with Manchester City to sign Rodri this summer, and even though a deal hasn't been struck yet, the player is keen to join Los Blancos this season, and the overwhelming expectation is that the deal will happen.
However, Real Madrid have also had to factor in a few things about the longevity for this player.
Obviously, Rodri is not the youngest player the club will sign this season. The Spaniard is already 30 years old, which would make him one of the more experienced signings Real Madrid have made in recent times.
With that in mind, the club would know that they have a four to five year window where they can keep getting good output from the midfielder, before he inevitably starts declining a little bit.
Obviously, with Rodri's playing style, he does not need to move that quickly with the ball, so in theory, he should be able to play at the top level for a while. However, moving off the ball and being able to cover distances to defend at Real Madrid could prove to be challenging, and even if the club keeps him around, they would need other players who can take up some of the responsibility with a view to eventually replace the World Cup winner in a few years' time.
Chema Andres is basically a baby Rodri
Chema is exactly that type of player. He is the closest player to Rodri that Real Madrid have produced, a tall, strong regista with great on-ball abilities.
Chema stands at 6'4", with really long legs that cover a lot of ground on and off the ball. He is definitely more athletic than many players in his age, as he has quickly become one of Stuttgart's most important players at just 21 years old.
There are some things the Spaniard has to improve on - his long range passing is not there yet, and sometimes, his passes are a bit too safe - but he has shown that he has the ability to do those things, which is more important.
The most important thing about Chema, besides his defensive capabilities, is that he is able to control matches. Even with short passes, moving around as an outlet and being confident to receive the ball at all times. This is what Real Madrid need after Rodri leaves, and owning 50% of Chema's rights would come in clutch for that time, if they still have them.
Obviously, it is probably easier said than done, but they simply cannot make the mistake they made with Martin Odegaard, where they bring him in prematurely and he ends up leaving.
Chema would need to come back to Real Madrid during Rodri's last year or two at the club, but until then, he would need to play as much as possible so that he develops at the best possible rate before he makes the move.
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