Real Madrid News
Real Madrid have turned down two offers for 19-year-old attacking prodigy
Alvaro Rodriguez emerges from a lineage steeped in excellence, having shown his brilliance in the fabled ranks of La Fabrica – Real Madrid’s youth academy.
Last season, Rodrguez appeared on the field six times for Real Madrid’s first team, featuring as a centre-forward off the bench.
Rodriguez’s outstanding physical qualities, which he uses to dominate defenders in the air for Real Madrid’s Castilla, earned him opportunities in La Liga.
The teenage striker’s late header against Atletico Madrid in the Madrid derby rescued a point for his side at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Rodriguez is not going anywhere
With the prodigy tipped to have a bright future ahead of him, Mundo Deportivo has come out to report that Real Madrid does not contemplate selling Alvaro Rodriguez this summer.
According to the report, the Merengues have rejected offers from newly-promoted La Liga club Alavés and second-division side RCD Espanyol for the young striker, indicative of the trust they have in him.
Rodriguez concluded the previous season on a high, training with the senior stars and playing for the first team under Carlo Ancelotti.
Despite his rise, though, Real Madrid do not wish to rush his development and believe he must bide his time under the tutelage of Raul Gonzalez before morphing into a regular first-team member.
As such, he did not travel with Ancelotti’s roster for the pre-season tour of the USA and instead trained under Raul with the Castilla players.
Los Blancos are aware of the potential they possess within their ranks.
But Rodriguez is still seen as having ample room for growth, therefore, he must first keep scoring goals for the reserves and then, if Ancelotti so orders, move up to the senior squad.
Despite not immediately offering him a first-team spot, Madrid remain firm in their belief that the player will have a great future at the club, and refusing proposals for him implies the club’s faith in him.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid rising star suffered against Atletico due to veteran forward’s absence, says Simeone
Real Madrid’s 3-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid was not the first time were in trouble this season. In fact, the Merengues have gone behind early in almost every league game so far.
However, the difference on Sunday night was that they never really mounted a comeback. More importantly, Jude Bellingham did not come good, for the first time.
Simeone unravels the mystery
A jubilant Diego Simeone spoke to the media after his side downed Real Madrid by three goals to one and spoke about a plethora of topics.
Interestingly, he commented specifically on why Bellingham did not have an impact at Civitas Metropolitano, citing the absence of Joselu as a key factor.
“No, the spaces were reduced and I think that Joselu’s lack of presence left him with fewer chances to get there, when he takes advantage of Joselu’s aerial play. We controlled him better, he’s extraordinary,” he said, as quoted by AS.
He even called out the refereeing on the night and insisted that the Real Madrid star-boy should have seen red for his late tackle on Angel Correa, saying:
“It looked like a sending-off to me live, it was a hard leg up, with Angelito hitting the ball.”
Ironically, he defended his defender Jose Maria Gimenez for an equally threatening tackle on the night.
“A bad foul, it’s a yellow card because it goes sideways. Bellingham goes from the front and I think it’s a bit more,” he stated paradoxically.
No time to lament
The game at Civitas Metropolitano may not have gone Real Madrid’s way. Yet, it is good for the Merengues to taste defeat early and see the gaping holes in their dynamic.
Carlo Ancelotti admitted in his press conference that he bore the lion’s share of the fault for Sunday’s loss and that he would have done things differently if given the chance.
“Maybe I could have done it better. It’s pretty clear. When the team doesn’t do what it has to do, it’s my responsibility,” he stated.
Nevertheless, Los Blancos have a hectic schedule ahead with two games in the next five days and a UCL fixture against Napoli next week. With Vinicius Jr back, one hopes they find their mojo once again.
