Real Madrid News
Rodrygo dreams of inheriting Real Madrid legend’s iconic jersey number – report
Some kit numbers in clubs across the world are reserved for the team’s best and most central players. At Real Madrid, an institution with a claim to be the greatest in the sport’s history, such numbers carry a significantly richer legacy.
One such kit at the Santiago Bernabeu is the number 10. Mesut Ozil, Luis Figo, Hector Rial and Ferenc Puskas are just some of the innumerable legends to have donned the kit. The current owner, Luka Modric, has taken its prestige to a whole new level.
According to reports from Relevo, Rodrygo Goes dreams of wearing the number 10 jersey one day. In fact, it has always been his idea to inherit the iconic kit from the Croatian midfielder.
The Brazilian, after all, is seen as one of Los Blancos‘ brightest talents for at least the next decade. His elite decision-making in front of the goal makes him an asset for Carlo Ancelotti, and at just 22 years of age, he has his best years ahead of him.
Rodrygo made 34 La Liga appearances for Real Madrid in the recently concluded season, scoring nine goals and providing eight assists in the process. Further, he averaged 1.4 key passes per game and created ten big chances.
The youngster has been at Santiago Bernabeu for close to four years now, and in fact, has great chances to don the prestigious kit in the future. However, he will have to wait for Modric does not appear close to his twilight years.
Despite being 37 years old, the midfielder is central to Real Madrid’s functioning, even on the biggest of stages. He has renewed his contract with the club and will continue for at least one more season.
The Croat has offers on the table from Qatar and Saudi Arabia, including one with the proposal of taking over as a manager once he retires. A decision over his longer-term future is expected soon.
Real Madrid News
Mbappe hits out at claims on his unhappiness at Real Madrid: ‘Angry at my great aunt too’
Kylian Mbappe has been in the news for a plethora of reasons in recent weeks, starting with his injury and surprise vacation. Beyond that, the Ballon d’Or saga has kept him in the spotlight for a reasonable while now.
The Frenchman, after all, has not held back in speaking out about why he deserves to win the prestigious individual award, and while it is perfectly okay to campaign for the award, it is something that has not usually been done in the past.
In terms of his goalscoring numbers, there is no doubt that Mbappe should be a frontrunner for the award. His lack of a single trophy for both club and country, however, works against his chances.
Mbappe’s sarcastic reply to baseless rumours
Earlier today, there were reports of Kylian Mbappe being angry with Zinedine Zidane and Real Madrid for not campaigning for him to win the Ballon d’Or this year.
The rumours, needless to say, portrayed the player in a very bad light and made it seem like the club not making public gestures to acknowledge and back his campaign affected him personally.
Now, the player has himself come out to lash out at the journalists, albeit in a sarcastic manner. Commenting directly below the post making the claim via Fabrizio Romano, the player wrote,
“Yes, yes, I even got angry with my great aunt too.”
Mbappe’s ability to deal with such reports with a tinge of humour, needless to say, is impressive and it can only be good for his image that he spoke out and cut off the news at its roots.
Set to return
There has been significant concern around Mbappe’s fitness in recent weeks after the player left the French national team with an injury after their first game.
The initial diagnosis appeared worrying, but it soon came to light that the player had avoided a major setback by a hair’s breadth.
Now, there is increasing hope that the Frenchman will be back for Real Madrid’s first game after the break against Villarreal, possibly even as a starter.
Needless to say, that comes as a massive positive for Jose Mourinho’s plans ahead of a crucial stretch of the season.
