Álvaro Rodríguez scored his debut goal for Real Madrid in his second league game against Atlético Madrid and is being tipped as Karim Benzema’s long-term successor. But how good is the 18-year-old really?
A lead against Real Madrid means nothing. Many clubs have had to experience this in recent years. So also recently Atlético Madrid in the city derby. The Rojiblanco led 1-0 against Los Blancos. A late goal from José María Giménez gave the visitors the lead. Vinicius Júnior, Karim Benzema, Federico Valverde, substitute Luka Modric – they were all probably high on fans’ lists as potential saviors.
But the hero of the evening turned out to be someone else: Álvaro Rodríguez equalized in the 85th minute with a wonderful header. The 18-year-old immediately catapulted himself into the hearts of the fans. Anyone who has followed the development of the top talent in recent years should not have been surprised. Rodríguez went from injury-prone winger to dominant centre-forward in three years at Real’s academy.
Once rejected by FC Barcelona, he is now a forward with the potential to eventually succeed Karim Benzema if he moves on or retires. Rodríguez is big, fast and has great touch on the ball. Those who coached him in the Spanish capital have already compared him to Erling Haaland. And while he might not match the Norwegian’s quality, Rodríguez has plenty of talent – certainly enough to become a regular at Los Blancos.
But who is Rodriguez and what makes him so good? NXGN takes a closer look at one of the most promising young players in Spanish football…
Álvaro Rodríguez: Wie alles begann
The son of former Uruguay international striker Coquito, Rodríguez was born in Girona, just under 40 kilometers from Barcelona. After impressing in Girona’s youth teams, he caught the attention of the Spanish football giants in 2020.
Barça were the first big club to try for him. How Sport reported, the Blaugrana scouts were very impressed with the then 15-year-old. However, those responsible in La Masia could not be convinced because they accused him of missing “Barça DNA”.
That got Real Madrid on the scene and when they got in touch with Rodríguez, he had little choice, having been a Los Blancos fan since childhood. However, even in Madrid there were some who weren’t immediately convinced by the teenager. Rodríguez had spent most of his youth career as a left winger, but his new coaches felt his long-term future might lie elsewhere.
A series of injuries initially made a change of position impossible. When he returned, however, he was increasingly used as a center forward.
Álvaro Rodríguez: The Big Break
In his new role, Rodríguez thrived in the Under-19s and caught the eye of Raúl – coach of Real Madrid Castilla, the under-19s. The former legendary striker requested video footage of the talent and later called him up to his team in Spain’s third division.
The goals were not long in coming: on January 8, 2022, Rodriguez scored for Castilla for the first time. He developed into a reliable centre-forward who was reportedly watching Romelu Lukaku films to keep improving.
He was soon being compared to Erling Haaland for his size, pace and scoring prowess. This season he edged out competition for the role of centre-forward in Raúl’s team, earning his spot ahead of much-loved former Barcelona star Iker Bravo.
“He’s faster than people think and when they try not to give him space, he gets in the way, wins the ball and distributes it. In the penalty area, he finishes every ball from the air. He can do both shoot his feet when he turns,” a Real Madrid source told The Athletic.
Rodríguez was first called up to the first-team in October 2022 but had to wait four months for his La Liga debut. When he finally made his debut, he didn’t waste much time proving his quality. In stoppage time, he provided the assist for Marco Asensio in a 2-0 win over Osasuna.
Álvaro Rodríguez: How things are going at the moment
Rodríguez has been given the no-nonsense task of supporting Karim Benzema. Madrid are desperately looking for a player who can represent and even replace the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner.
His goal against Atlético indicated he could fill that role as he broke away from his opponent and headed past the hopeless Jan Oblak. He was able to keep the currently weak title hopes in the league alive.
He also caused a stir at international level when he finished runners-up for Uruguay at the South American U20 Championship in January. Rodríguez finished the tournament with five goals – just one short of the competition’s top scorer. He seems poised to continue the tradition of Uruguay’s top strikers in Europe.
Álvaro Rodríguez: Great Stars
Rodríguez is a deadly goalscorer. The youngster is very good in the penalty area and in the air. While he’s not as incredible an athlete as Haaland, he’s physically gifted enough to turn poor crosses into good ones.
He’s also quite fast for his size and his past as a winger means he can excel in one-on-ones on offense with excellent technical ability. Through these experiences he developed a great understanding of the game.
Álvaro Rodríguez: Room for translations
Rodríguez’s most obvious weakness is his first touch. His sometimes clumsy style of play made Madrid hesitate to let him play on the wing. Especially since the senior national team relies on agile, smaller players on the flanks.
That could be a long-term problem for Los Blancos, who rely on fluid possession. But Rodríguez is only 18 years old and still has some work to do on that part of his game.
There are also some criticisms of his decision making, especially in counterattack situations. Coach Carlo Ancelotti will hope that he can improve in such situations as he matures. Because the counterattack is an important element for Real, especially in the premier class.
Álvaro Rodríguez: Der nächste … Darwin Núñez?
Mostly Rodríguez is compared to Haaland. And in a way, that makes sense too. Their physical profiles are remarkably similar and both rely on speed and bounce – they’re also deadly on the finish line.
But Rodríguez lacks Haaland’s calm and he is more like his potential national team colleague Darwin Nunez. Both were trained as wingers, but feel much more comfortable in the attacking centre. Both are incredibly dangerous on offense, but can also stumble when the game slows down and becomes more static. They’re almost exactly the same weight and downright chaotic, making them unpredictable.
The shortcomings in decision-making are also reminiscent of Núñez. Hasty actions and shots, but also balls that slip over his feet are unmistakable parallels to his compatriot. At the same time, these are aspects that the 18-year-old can still improve significantly in the coming years.
The duo swapped shirts after Real Madrid’s Champions League win over Liverpool at Anfield last week – and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they line up together for Uruguay in the years to come.
Álvaro Rodríguez: Where are we waiting?
As with all Madrid youth players, it all depends on how consistent Rodríguez can be in his performances. Playing for the Champions League winners can be a tough and relentless task. Even under Ancelotti there is little patience for young players who lack consistency.
But if Rodríguez continues to impress off the bench, he could be a candidate to succeed Benzema. Ancelotti is definitely confident that he will be an integral part of the team in the long run, as he said after Rodriguez’s appearance in the derby: “Our plan for next season is for Álvaro to play in the first team. He has Quality like no other and is big and strong.
And further: “Benzema is not a traditional centre-forward, so it’s good for us to have a striker of this quality and size.”
It is expected that Rodríguez will remain at the Castilla for the remainder of the season in order to maintain his rhythm. But it won’t be long before playing in the lower leagues will be a thing of the past for the hopeful.
