REAL MADRID
Rodrygo: "I'm at the best club in the world"
The Brazilian is thrilled to be called up by Brazil. "Playing for Madrid has opened up so many doors for me with the national team. It was the moment I was waiting for".
Rodrygo Goes had a pleasant surprise on Thursday on finding out that he has been called up by Brazil. National team coach Tite included the Real Madrid winger along with club team mates Militão, Casemiro and Vinicius in his squad for this month's World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay. For Brazil, both games will be a formality - they have already qualified for the World Cup but it will be an opportunity for the Madrid player to gain more experience at international level. As he himself admitted, he has been "waiting for this moment to arrive".
He explained, "I'm arelly happy about being called up. I would like to thank God and everyone involved with the national team for giving me the chance to come back. This was the moment I have been waiting for and at last, it has arrived".
Rodrygo has three caps at full international level with the Selecção - having played in two firneldies and one World Cup qualifier. His last appearance for the national team was in the 5-0 win over Bolivia in October 2020.
"I still have time to grow as a player - even up to the World Cup and I only want to help my team, whether that's my club or the national team. I know that I am at the best club in the world and that has opened a lot of doors for me with the national team. If I am playing well here, I will have more of a chance of being called up," the 21-year-old added.
Rodrygo's figures this season
He has been able to consolidate his place in Ancelotti's team this season where he is competing with Marco Asensio to hold down the right wing position. That competition has helped both players to improve their performance levels. He played a key role in Wednesday's Spanish Super Cup semi-final win over Barcelona, coming on as a second half sub and providing Valverde with the pass which produced the winner. So far this season, he has built up 1,003 minutes of playing time spread over 23 games, in which his own contribution has been two goals and five assists. He has made 82 appearances for Real Madrid since he signed for the club in 2019.