I often think of the majestic days when Rodrygo used to be a great player. These days are not from long ago but only a few seasons back.
He was, in every literal sense, Real Madrid’s key to unlocking Champions League deadlocks. He was special.
But what has dreadfully become of him speaks of a distilled sadness. The way Rodrygo has declined into a negligible player whose presence is as ineffective as his absence is unfortunate, yet real.
There must be some way for redemption, the player must think. I believe the first step toward such redemption will be mental repair. And the first steps toward this are already being taken
Real Madrid’s most criticised star unexpectedly wore the captain's armband
Real Madrid played a warm-up game against Leganes earlier today and, apart from the favourable result, what stood out most was Xabi Alonso experimenting. That, after all, is what warm-up games are for.
David Alaba starting as a central midfielder stood out, as did Xabi choosing to make Rodrygo the captain in the second half.
According to Miguel Angel Diaz, Rodrygo wore the captain’s armband for the second half of the game, which ended in a 4-1 win for Los Blancos.
While this gesture may seem minor in a warm-up game, it carries weight when you consider that Rodrygo had become almost unplayable, enduring some of his worst minutes in the Club World Cup under Xabi Alonso.
It is often discussed that Rodrygo is determined to stay at Real Madrid and wants to complete his redemption arc by fighting for his place. I think that showing such confidence in him, even in a small way, can go a long way toward giving him the mental readiness to spark his efforts for a comeback.
As things stand, Rodrygo is set to stay at Real Madrid unless an unexpected offer arrives before the end of the transfer window.