Cristiano Ronaldo made a right away influence at Actual Madrid, serving to the membership safe the 2013-14 UEFA Champions League title towards Atletico Madrid, however the membership was already planning to develop a promising younger expertise who was hailed as his successor. Regardless of this pleasure, the Portuguese ensured his place as Madrid’s best determine. Eight years after leaving the membership, the participant as soon as dubbed “Ronaldo’s successor” has opened up concerning the causes behind his unfulfilled potential.
Whereas Actual Madrid’s academy will not be notably famend for producing legendary figures, it sometimes produces gems. One such gem was Jese Rodriguez, who made his first-team debut in December 2011 at simply 18 years previous, changing Ronaldo himself. Reflecting on these early days, Jese admitted, “At that second, I needed to tackle the world.”
Nevertheless, in some of the pivotal moments of his transient profession, the Spanish winger suffered a devastating damage—an entire tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his proper knee—following a troublesome problem by Sead Kolasinac on March 18, 2014. The damage stored him sidelined for eight months, and when he finally returned in December, his efficiency had notably declined.
Chatting with Spanish YouTuber Mowlihawk, Jese opened up about how this damage “modified his life without end.” “Over time, I noticed that day modified my life without end. It was one of many worst days of my life…I used to be younger and doing very well at the perfect membership on this planet, with essentially the most strain. Florentino took me to the perfect surgeon in Germany. However after I received the an infection and needed to be cleaned out twice, I stated, ‘It’s over,’” Jese admitted.
Whereas the Spanish media had initially made playful comparisons between him and Ronaldo—calling the Portuguese star “Bicho” (the “bug“) and referring to Jese as “Bichito” (the “little bug“)—the younger ahead’s highway to restoration noticed him transfer throughout numerous European leagues. His profession took him from Spain to France, England, Italy, Portugal, Turkey, Brazil, and now Malaysia.
Jese on being in contrast with Ronaldo
Jese’s early profession at Actual Madrid mirrored the ascent of a large. Throughout the 2012-13 season, whereas enjoying for Actual Madrid Castilla (the membership’s second workforce), he broke a report set by membership legend Emilio Butragueño, scoring 22 targets in 38 matches. Upon being promoted to the primary workforce, Jese had one ambition: to surpass Ronaldo. Nevertheless, he shortly realized that the comparisons had been exaggerated.
“It’s true that Cristiano Ronaldo and I had comparable traits, however the press exaggerated lots. For me, he was like a mirror, and I had him at dwelling. I needed to win what he had already received. He was very imposing due to his seriousness and professionalism,” Jese said. “Generally he would inform us, ‘Let’s go have dinner with Sergio (Ramos).’ I met him when he was nonetheless a youth participant, taking a chilly tub. After I moved as much as the primary workforce, he remembered that,” he admitted.
Jese recalled on his Ballon d’Or quote
One in all Jese’s most memorable statements got here in 2014 when, brimming with ambition, he boldly predicted, “In 4 years, I see myself profitable the Ballon d’Or.” Now, years later, Jese has a extra grounded perspective on these early ambitions.
“I used to be very younger, I noticed myself as too sturdy, and I’m very trustworthy. I wouldn’t change it, however sure, perhaps I might have stated: ‘I believe that if I hold going like this, I could possibly be on the trail to profitable a Ballon d’Or,’” the Spanish participant admitted.
Jese additionally recalled a particular second with Ronaldo after the Portuguese star received the distinguished award in 2014:: “Cristiano introduced me the Ballon d’Or when he had received it and let me take a photograph with it. He requested me, ‘Are you going to win it?’ and I stated, ‘Sure.’ He replied, ‘That’s the perspective.’”
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