Real Madrid Player Confesses Discontent with His New Role

Rodrygo Expresses Discomfort with New Role at Real Madrid

Article Rewrite: With limited depth and options in various areas of the pitch, Carlo Ancelotti has been forced to devise innovative solutions to maximize Real Madrid’s performance. Winning ten out of eleven games this season, it’s clear that his strategies have proven successful. However, the recent shift in formation has not benefited all the players equally.

At Real Madrid, Rodrygo has displayed versatility by playing in various positions up front and adapting to different tactical systems designed by Ancelotti. This season, his role has transitioned from being stationed on the right flank in the 4-3-3 formation to occupying one of the two forward positions in the Italian coach’s new 4-4-2 diamond system.

Rodrygo’s adaptability and capability to influence games from different positions make him a valuable asset. Nevertheless, this season, the Brazilian youngster has found it challenging to make a significant impact in his new central role.

It appears that Rodrygo is not entirely content with his current position, as he mentioned to the Mirror:

“It’s always important to be able to play in different roles. But I’ve always made it clear that it is better for me to play on the wings. I’ve always said I don’t like playing as a number nine, although at my club, I have to. I don’t like it a lot.”

“In the national team, with Diniz’s system, I have more mobility, I can move anywhere on the pitch, which has helped my game. It is important to know how to do different things. It helps you avoid being substituted, it helps you play and be in the starting XI. You need to do what you are required to do, which is very important for me.”

Heatmaps from this season illustrate that the Brazilian forward has a tendency to drift towards the wings even when playing in a central role. However, he has not been able to find his best form this season.

Following Karim Benzema’s departure from the club, there were expectations that Rodrygo would step up and contribute more goals to his game. Instead, it appears that he has faced setbacks in his development. According to statistics from Transfermarkt, he has scored one goal and provided one assist in 11 appearances this season.

While the 22-year-old may not be content with his new role, there’s no compelling reason for Ancelotti to alter a system that consistently delivers positive results.