LaLiga
Why is Rodrygo not playing for Real Madrid against Girona? How long is he out for?
With Vinicius Jr already missing for Los Blancos, more bad news hits as his Brazilian compatriot is forced to pull out.
Rodrygo will miss Saturday’s game against Girona, and so will Gonzalo and Chema Andrés. A triple blow for Carlo Ancelotti just before the clash.
Late Rodrygo withdrawal for Madrid
The Brazilian is dealing with discomfort in the left thigh. No tests have been conducted yet to determine the recovery timeline, but he will miss a game where his presence was expected to be crucial—especially in light of Vinícius’ absence, though the latter is set to return on Tuesday against Atalanta. This marks Rodrygo’s third consecutive muscle injury. He missed the Clásico, then sat out against Leganés and Liverpool, and now he will miss the Girona match. Whether he will travel to Bergamo remains uncertain.
For the youth players, it was a tough call-up. Both Gonzalo and Chema started under Raúl’s management in Murcia, in a match that kicked off on Friday evening at a packed Nueva Condomina stadium, with 21,000 in attendance. It was a tough match against one of the top promotion contenders, ending in a 3–1 defeat with both players left exhausted.
Gonzalo, who saw his streak of scoring in six consecutive matches come to an end (he is the top scorer in the Primera RFEF with 12 goals), had to be substituted in the 70th minute, replaced by Hugo de Llanos. Chema, on the other hand, played the full match but reported minor discomfort—nothing serious—that kept him from boarding the plane. This opened the door for Dani Yáñez, who will make his first senior team league call-up, having already been on the bench at Anfield.
Who is Real Madrid youngster Dani Yáñez?
Dani Yáñez is the hot star of La Fábrica. At just 17 years old (born March 28, 2007), he has made the Youth League his playground. His partnership with Fortea on the right flank has been wreaking havoc across Europe.
Despite starting out wide, Yáñez is Juvenil A’s top scorer in the mini-Champions, with four goals in five matches. His performance in the last game says it all—a doubly special day in Liverpool. Three minutes into the match, he scored the game’s only goal to seal Real Madrid’s advancement. Hours later, he was with the first team at Anfield. Now, his journey takes a leap into LaLiga.
Born in Cádiz, Yáñez left his hometown for La Fábrica in 2019. His flair, daring play, and sharp left foot impressed Real Madrid’s scouting team, who wasted no time signing him. Yáñez has since risen quickly through the ranks. Last season, despite his youth, he became an important player for Álvaro Arbeloa, and now he’s a key figure alongside Fortea, Barroso, Diego Aguado, and Valde in Arbeloa’s system.
Carlo Ancelotti is not the only one keeping an eye on Yáñez. The youngster is already leaning more toward Castilla than Juvenil A. Injuries in Raúl’s squad have created opportunities, and Yáñez has seized them without hesitation. He made his Castilla debut in the ninth round and has played in every game since—eight in total. Just yesterday, he came on in the 62nd minute. From Murcia to Girona, Yáñez keeps flying high.
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