"If Rodrygo and Kubo are fighting for one spot, it'll be very close"
Former Brazil U-17s coach Carlos Amadeu spoke to AS about Real Madrid starlet Rodrygo, who he knows very well from the international set-up.
Former Brazil Under-17s boss Carlos Amadeu has been a key figure in the development of Real Madrid new boy Rodrygo, who arrived from Santos this summer. Amadeu was also the man who gave another of the club's Brazilian starlets, Vinicius, his debut for the nation's Under-15s. Now, he is following the teenage pair's progress from afar as they seek to make their mark at the LaLiga giants.
"When I saw Vinicius and Rodrygo at 15, I knew they'd go far"
"I think it's great that a club of Madrid's stature is embracing young talent like Vinicius, Rodrygo, [Takefusa] Kubo and Brahim [Díaz]," Amadeu told AS. "They should all be looking to be the future of the team. When I saw Vinicius and Rodrygo play at the age of 15, I knew they'd go far. They're players who take their man on and beat him time and time again, and who are constantly creating danger."
"Rodrygo has a tough job on his hands - Kubo also has bags of ability"
Rodrygo and Kubo have both earned plenty of media attention during Madrid's summer tour and, in the wake of the long-term injury suffered by Marco Asensio, an opportunity has arisen for one of the emerging youngsters to establish himself in the first-team fold at the Bernabéu. "If Rodrygo and Kubo are fighting for just the one spot, I think it'll be very close," Amadeu said.
"Rodrygo has a tough job on his hands, because Kubo also has bags of ability. They can both operate in a number of roles and boast real quality when it comes to delivering the final pass to the striker. They've both also got very good shots on them.
"If Rodrygo struggles for opportunities in the first team, he should get himself in the second team [Real Madrid Castilla] and keep on learning his trade there, just like Vinicius did," Amadeu added. "He's a player who's still developing, who needs to keep on honing the qualities that he possesses, and who will surprise the coaches, because he can play in several different positions."
"I'd love to get a chance to work in Spain"
Amadeu is a firm fan of European soccer, particularly LaLiga. "My footballing philosophy has a lot in common with the type of stuff played in Spain," the 53-year-old explains. "Right now I'm spending my time studying the game and I'd love to get a chance to work in Spain, using the know-how that I've got to help teams out."