Jese So Desperate To Impress Zidane'sTeam
The 23-year-old had been expected to leave next
summer, but is eager to stay at the Santiago Bernabeu and spearhead an
exciting project mixing star signings with homegrown heroes
SPECIAL REPORT FROM GOAL
It is often said that a person projects
their virtues, fears or beliefs on those around them. Like parents with
their children. Or in sport, coaches with their players. But while Zinedine Zidane was one known for his artistry on the pitch, he seems set to on fielding teams with as much passion and heart as possible at Real Madrid.
Following a season full of obstacles, the recipe for finding the path to glory looks like being a mixture of breed and talent -
with both of those ingredients vitally important for success. And in a squad brimming with quality, the ones who best understand the two concepts are the canteranos - the homegrown players. Today, Real Madrid is immersed in a revolution of Zidane's 'Pavones'.
Following a season full of obstacles, the recipe for finding the path to glory looks like being a mixture of breed and talent -
with both of those ingredients vitally important for success. And in a squad brimming with quality, the ones who best understand the two concepts are the canteranos - the homegrown players. Today, Real Madrid is immersed in a revolution of Zidane's 'Pavones'.
The term Pavones was coined in the first Galactico era as
president Florentino Perez sought to combine expensive signings like the
Frenchman with homegrown players such as Francisco Pavon. However, the
plan failed because Pavon and the other emerging canteranos at that time
were not up to the required standard.
Especially significant was the recent
match at the Ciutat de Valencia, against Levante. Days after derby
defeat against Atletico, players like Nacho, Casemiro, Lucas Vazquez and
Borja Mayoral were all handed opportunities in the starting XI. And
they gave a good account of themselves - as several did again versus
Celta Vigo and Roma in the next two matches.
Lucas and Casemiro have done particularly well, earning praise from fans and fellow players, putting their names at the top of the list for starting spots in the latter part of the season. But, in the same dressing room, there is another player who is fighting day in, day out to spearhead the revolution: Jese Rodriguez.
Lucas and Casemiro have done particularly well, earning praise from fans and fellow players, putting their names at the top of the list for starting spots in the latter part of the season. But, in the same dressing room, there is another player who is fighting day in, day out to spearhead the revolution: Jese Rodriguez.
Goal has learned that almost two years on
from his serious knee injury against Schalke (the ruptured anterior
cruciate ligament he suffered on March 18, 2014), the Canary Islander is
determined to give absolutely everything to help the team over the
coming months, encouraged by increased opportunities from rotation in
recent matches.
He never really went away, but Jese's growth was stunted by injury and he is eager to emerge once again and leave his mark on the first team, to open the door to a long career at Madrid and succeed where many others have failed in recent years.
His quality has been all apparent over the last few years, with records in the youth teams along the way, but the winger's stats this term show he is improving again with his injury in the past now (four goals and five assists in the current campaign compared to four and two respectively in 2014-15).
He never really went away, but Jese's growth was stunted by injury and he is eager to emerge once again and leave his mark on the first team, to open the door to a long career at Madrid and succeed where many others have failed in recent years.
His quality has been all apparent over the last few years, with records in the youth teams along the way, but the winger's stats this term show he is improving again with his injury in the past now (four goals and five assists in the current campaign compared to four and two respectively in 2014-15).
Over his entire career at Madrid, Jese averages a goal
every 92 minutes and he has been efficient in that area this season.
Coming off the bench, he has hit three goals and bagged four assists,
even when he has been involved little - as against Celta recently and
especially away to Roma when his crucial strike saw Madrid all but wrap
up the tie at Stadio Olimpico.
His impact has been faster and more noticeable than it had been for some time and that could be fruit of the added confidence he has shown since the arrival of Zidane as coach in January.
But Jese wants more. He hopes to have even more influence at Real Madrid and with that as his objective, he is training extra hard - this week in particular, Goal has learned, ahead of the return to his homeland, to Las Palmas, in La Liga on Sunday.
This is not the first time he is up against the Canary Islanders, though. At the Bernabeu earlier this season, he scored against Las Palmas and declined to celebrate as a mark of respect. Because it is a special side for Jese, one which he left in order to join Real nine years ago.
His impact has been faster and more noticeable than it had been for some time and that could be fruit of the added confidence he has shown since the arrival of Zidane as coach in January.
But Jese wants more. He hopes to have even more influence at Real Madrid and with that as his objective, he is training extra hard - this week in particular, Goal has learned, ahead of the return to his homeland, to Las Palmas, in La Liga on Sunday.
This is not the first time he is up against the Canary Islanders, though. At the Bernabeu earlier this season, he scored against Las Palmas and declined to celebrate as a mark of respect. Because it is a special side for Jese, one which he left in order to join Real nine years ago.
And to remember his roots, the winger has a tattoo with his 'home' imprinted eternally on his skin. It is his inspiration and the chance of returning to Las Palmas in a Madrid shirt, in front of his friends and family, represents something special - a dream come true.
Goal learned that many of Spain's biggest clubs were tracking the teenage Jese, who was already starring on the islands at the age of 14. And among them were Barcelona. The Blaugrana even reached an agreement with his club, Huracan, for his signing. Jese's team-mate Enrique Castano travelled to the Catalan capital to check out the installations, but Jese was only ever interested in Madrid and with the help of his family, a move to Real was completed thanks to an earlier pre-contract agreement being pushed through.
Nine seasons have passed since then and Jese now returns to Las Palmas wearing a Real Madrid shirt on Sunday, at the Estadio de Gran Canaria, and he does so with the firm aim of leading the 'Pavones' revolution with plenty of heart and even more talent.
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