Name: Jese Rodriguez
Club: Real Madrid Castilla
Nationality: Spanish
Position: Winger
Who is he?
Originally from the Canary Islands, Jese joined Real Madrid’s youth system aged 14. The 19-year-old winger has worked his way up the ranks and currently plies his trade for the club’s reserve side Real Madrid Castilla where he has scored 24 times in 66 games in the Spanish second and third tier.
Achievements
Top scorer at the 2012 U19 European Champions, Jese has only made two appearances for Real Madrid’s senior side – including one in La Liga towards the tail end of last season.
He is highly thought of by club President Florentino Perez who sees him as a “new Raul” as he seeks to increase the number of youth academy products in the Real first team.
Attributes
The tricky winger is an excellent dribbler. Normally deployed on the left at club level, the right footer likes to cut inside and use his keen eye for goal.
Potential
Despite being highly rated at Real, he might not be at the Bernabeu for much longer. Jese has become frustrated at the lack of opportunities for academy products in the club’s first team under Jose Mourinho, who does not have a strong reputation for blooding youngsters at any club he has been at.
In an incendiary article in Spanish sports daily Marca at the start of February, he claimed that he will not renew his contract (which runs out in 2014) if he is not given a chance, implying that the manager prefers the finished article.
His future is intrinsically linked to Mourinho’s. But with the ex-Chelsea boss set to depart in the summer and Perez keen to see his prized asset progress into the first-team, Jese could well stay and get his chance.
