Getafe - Real Madrid: Awaiting a 'Vitamin' Boost from Rodrygo

Rodrygo returns to Real Madrid with a renewed presence, as he rediscovers happiness and productivity thanks to his greatest coach, Carlo Ancelotti.

Real Madrid has just recovered a rare "vitamin" they had lost during the closing months of Carlo Ancelotti’s reign: Rodrygo Goes. He doesn’t make noise nor serve as the focus of marketing campaigns, but whenever he plays, Rodrygo’s freshness feels like a revitalizing drink for Real Madrid’s increasingly overloaded offense—particularly in light of Kylian Mbappe’s recent injury while with the French national team (a problem that first emerged during the Villarreal game).

Before the season started, many thought Rodrygo would become redundant or be transferred. He was merely Vinicius’s "shadow" on the left wing, while the striker spot was naturally reserved for Mbappe. Even the young talent Franco Mastantuono was favored by "Professor" Xabi for the right-wing attacking role, with Arda Guler playing as the creative midfielder.

Rodrygo, who grew up within the family-like environment fostered by Ancelotti, with Luka Modric acting like a father figure, never complained or grumbled. He quietly trained, accepted being on the bench, and waited patiently for his playing time. The opportunity came exactly when he needed it most—reuniting with his beloved Cartletto during his first call-up to the Brazil national team in the 2025-26 season.

In Seoul, during the friendly against South Korea, Rodrygo played as if repaying a debt of gratitude to the coach who once saved him from despair. He scored two goals and earned the Man of the Match award, but more importantly, his performance was marked by flexibility, energy, and confident movement across the entire attacking front. "I went through a very difficult period," he said after the match. "No one knew what was happening. I was unwell both physically and mentally. But now I am a new person, a new player, and I want to prove it."