Rodrygo is left without the Olympic Games, but his absence from the list for Tokyo will give him the opportunity to convince Carlo Ancelotti from day one. The 20-year-old Madrid player was left out of the call for 18 players for the Olympic event that Brazil announced last Friday. Despite the fact that the Brazilian confederation technicians have counted on the São Paulo player for several preparation friendlies, they have finally opted for other options.
Disappointment at not being in the Olympic tournament, however, will give Rodrygo a chance to earn Ancelotti’s trust from day one. The player is summoned in Valdebebas on July 5 to start the preseason with the rest of his teammates who have not participated in the Eurocup or the America’s Cup. An initial squad of 12 troops that will be completed by several homegrown players until the other dozen internationals and those who attend the Games, go back to work after their vacations.
Rodrygo faces his third year at Real Madrid with the aim of taking a step forward in his progression. The season just ended he enjoyed fewer minutes than in his debut due to an injury to his right hamstring that left him out for more than two months. Just at a time in the campaign in which injuries began to accumulate in the white dressing room and the São Paulo player could have enjoyed more minutes.
Compared statistics of Rodrygo in his two seasons at Real Madrid.
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In the end, closed the year with 1,298 minutes played and just two goals: the one that gave Madrid the victory (3-2) in the first match against Inter in the Champions League group stage and one of the four in the victory (1-4) in Granada on the third-to-last matchday of the League . A scoring baggage that he seasoned with seven assists (six in the League and one in the Champions League). The previous season, that of his debut, he added 1,428 minutes with the first team, in addition to another 268 with Castilla. He scored seven goals (two in the League, one in the Cup and four in the Champions League, including his hat-trick to Galatasaray) and gave three assists (all in Champions). After two years of growth under the mantle of Zidane, now is the time for Rodrygo to continue advancing with Ancelotti.
Vinicius does not go for ‘incompatibility’
Madrid will not have representation in the Brazilian Olympic team. To the absence of Rodrygo is added that of Vinicius, although in this case it has not been by dismissal but by ‘incompatibility’. None of the under-23s (Militao is also of age to attend) who participate in the Copa América, as is the case with Vini, has been summoned for Tokyo. Reinier, who, like Rodrygo, has participated in several friendlies, has also not been called up.