As the golden hues of the Iberian Peninsula melted into the twilight, a tale of shattered dreams and unfulfilled promise unfolded, its tendrils stretching from the hallowed halls of Real Madrid to the distant shores of Malaysia. Jese Rodriguez, a 31-year-old winger whose trajectory had been measured against the celestial body of Cristiano Ronaldo, bemoaned the relentless scrutiny and unrealistic expectations that had haunted his every step.
Rodriguez’s odyssey began at La Fabrica, Real Madrid’s vaunted academy, where he was nurtured alongside a coterie of talented youngsters destined for greatness. The Madrid faithful had anticipated that he would emerge as a key player, a worthy successor to the greats that had come before him. And, indeed, he did make a name for himself, playing alongside Ronaldo and other footballing luminaries at the Santiago Bernabeu.
However, the stay was short-lived, and he soon departed for Paris Saint-Germain in 2016, a move touted as a major coup for the French giants. Yet, his time in Paris was marked by turmoil and disillusionment, as he spent most of his days loaned out to other clubs, clocking just 18 appearances for the Parisians.
As he reflected on his time at Real Madrid, Rodriguez’s voice was tinged with wistfulness and regret. “It’s true that Cristiano and I had similar aspects, but the press exaggerated a lot,” he confessed. “For me, he was like a mirror. I wanted to win everything he had won. He was someone who imposed himself a lot with his serious and professional attitude.”
The weight of such expectations can be crushing, and Rodriguez’s inability to replicate Ronaldo’s success only added to his frustration and disillusionment. His eventual move to Johor DT, a Malaysian club, marked the end of his time in European football, an act hailed by many as a rejection of the pressures and stress that came with playing at the highest level.
However, his musings on his time at Real Madrid also served as a testament to his admiration for his former teammate, Kylian Mbappe. The young French phenom, in Rodriguez’s opinion, shared a quality with Ronaldo – a relentless drive to improve and a hunger for success. “I had a couple of conversations with him before I left,” Rodriguez recalled. “He asked me what Real Madrid was like as a club, and I told him that it was the best club in the world, and if he wanted to win the Ballon d’Or, he should sign for Madrid.”
Mbappe’s move to Real Madrid was touted as a major coup, but the young Frenchman has struggled to make an impact in his first season. Rodriguez’s words, however, serve as a reminder that even the most gifted players can face challenges and setbacks. As the dust settles on his own career, Rodriguez’s reflections on his time with Ronaldo and Mbappe serve as a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of success and the crushing pressure that comes with being a footballing superstar.
