Álvaro Rodríguez: From Real Madrid’s Castilla to Getafe’s Rising Star

Álvaro Rodríguez, the young Spanish forward currently on loan from Real Madrid to Getafe, has been making significant strides in his career. Recently, Rodríguez reflected on his journey, particularly highlighting the influence of legendary Spanish player Raúl González Blanco. Raúl, who spotted Rodríguez during a training session with Real Madrid’s Castilla team, recognized the young player’s potential and advised him to transition from a left winger to a striker.

Rodríguez recalled the pivotal moment when Raúl told him, “You have to be a striker. If you improve, you will do great things.” This guidance led to intense training and mentorship under Raúl, who taught him critical skills such as always going for the rebound, making the first move in aerial battles, and creating space from defenders.

In the 2022/23 season, Rodríguez began to frequent the first team, where he also received advice from Karim Benzema. Despite the challenges, Rodríguez has shown resilience, especially during periods of goal drought. He emphasized that the key to his success is not to obsess over scoring goals but to stay focused on the game. This approach was evident in his recent performance against Valladolid, where he scored his first goal for Getafe after coming on as a substitute in the 65th minute.

Rodríguez’s mental toughness, developed through his experiences and the demanding training under coaches like José Bordalás, has been crucial in his growth. He acknowledged that the tough training environment, though challenging, has yielded positive results and helped him become a stronger player mentally.