Rodríguez has been a Real Madrid youth team player for nearly three years.
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A talent has burst through the Real Madrid ranks, and his name is Álvaro Rodríguez. In his early, breathless Los Blancos career, the teenager has already scored an equalizer in a crucial Madrid derby draw while earning a more prominent place in next season’s senior roster. That’s pretty good going.
Technically still a second-string Castilla player, the rangy striker has become a convenient option for coach Carlo Ancelotti as the Italian prepares Copa del Rey Clásicos with Barcelona and a comeback charge against its rival in La Liga. Oh yes, and a challenge for two straight Champions League crowns.
Of course, the 18-year-old, who first developed at Girona in Catalonia, has limited first-team experience in the Spanish capital, meaning he doesn’t command the same earnings as its more established squad members. However, that stands for little when considering his vital role in shaping the rest of Real Madrid’s 2023.
The Uruguayan international, with a vital strike in just eight league minutes at the Santiago Bernabéu, could play a significant part in Real’s sportive and financial plans. Much of this centers around Kylian Mbappé. Rumors over the expensive Frenchman’s potential move to Spain won’t fade. But if Rodríguez’s sharp ascent continues, any switch won’t be a massive priority.
Mbappé could reportedly leave PSG for nothing in 2024 should he not fully commit to his multimillion-dollar contract until 2025. Regardless, the asset will require sky-high wages, even without a considerable transfer cost. Mbappé has around four months to confirm his stance, with his decision perhaps hinging on how PSG fares in European competition.
Mbappé made FIFA’s best men’s team at the FIFPRO awards in Paris on Monday.
In theory, Real can afford the sensation—in excellent form at the Champions League-chasing juggernaut and its joint-highest-ever scorer. Its finances are in check, and selling peripheral options in the next window would free enough funds. Whether it needs Mbappé is another matter altogether. It wants him, but how it hard it pushes much rests on future developments.
Real’s success with Ancelotti has come from trusting players who have bedded into the system. If the squad recovers ground in the league and ends the campaign with more silverware, it’s hard to make a case for Mbappé arriving in Madrid with any risk. Apart from the ever-anonymous Eden Hazard, the modern Real doesn’t tend to make moves without full consideration. Plus, there are other top-billing names out there.
Vinícius Júnior plays in Mbappé’s position and has reportedly received the number seven jersey for next season, with Hazard set to vacate it. It points towards a steady progression, with Vinícius looking to become a Cristiano Ronaldo-like figure at Los Blancos. If the coming months work out for Real, it may not need to break the bank for another offensive star.
With Álvaro—who seems to have taken to La Liga soccer seamlessly—added to a mix comprising Vinícius, Federico Valverde, Marco Asensio and Karim Benzema—there is already a solution in place and someone who understands the club culture even at a young age.
On the fearless forward, Ancelotti said, “He has shown all his quality in the little game time he’s had. We think he can be useful for us in this stretch of the season, playing for Castilla and playing for us. Our plan for next season is for Álvaro to be in the first-team squad.”
From its own nurturing, Real has another precious card in its pack.
Source: forbes.com
