Jesus Vallejo talks Real Madrid, Modric, Ancelotti, Valverde, Carvajal, Rodrygo: ‘Already proven his worth’ | OneFootball

After a decade of ups and downs at Real Madrid, including five loan spells, Jesus Vallejo said goodbye to the club this summer.

The 27-year-old centre-back from Zaragoza has signed for Albacete on a free transfer following the expiry of his contract.

Vallejo barely played for Real Madrid during his time at the club, but his professionalism and attitude were always top-notch. Now, he hopes to carry forward and get his career back on track with Albacete.

Speaking in an interview with AS, Vallejo explained his decision to join Albacete after leaving Real Madrid.

“It was about the feelings I had. I visited more than two weeks ago and was delighted. From that day, I knew it was the right place for me – and I think I made the right decision.”

Although new to the squad, he stated would not shy away from a leadership role if it naturally evolves, highlighting how he led by example at Real Madrid even though he was not playing.

“I have great respect for our captains, but everyone should be a leader at some point. At Real Madrid, I accepted the role I was given. I was not satisfied with not playing, but I understood it and trained flat out every day,” he said.

“In that sense, I considered myself a leader by how I behaved and how I handled the situation.”

Since arriving, the emotional response from the Albacete fans has struck a chord, even compared to his time at Real Madrid.

“They are different feelings. At Madrid, I also felt loved – by teammates and by the fans. I did not play much, but my relationship with everyone was good,” he said.

“Here, they have shown incredible affection from the very beginning, and that has given me a lot of energy to give everything I have.”

Summing up his time at the Santiago Bernabeu, Vallejo called it a learning experience, saying:

“It was about learning. I always tried to give my best, but the competition was the highest you can face in football. I would have liked to play more, but the level of the squad was enormous.”

Talking about his lack of minutes during Carlo Ancelotti’s tenure, Vallejo insisted that the Italian’s decisions were never personal.

“His role was one of pressure and maximum responsibility. He always said his job was not to distribute minutes but to win matches. That was his philosophy. He did not count on me much, and while I wanted to play more, I always respected his decisions,” he said.

Jesus Vallejo left Real Madrid this summer. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Among his former Real Madrid teammates, Vallejo stated there was one figure who consistently lifted his spirits.

“Carvajal. From the moment I arrived until the day I left, he was the ideal teammate – positive and supportive in every way. He is a natural leader and the perfect captain. The Madrid armband could not be in better hands,” he noted.

He sees similar traits in Federico Valverde, as he noted: “Without a doubt. Fede is another phenomenon. He is a fierce competitor who wants to play every match – even when carrying small muscle injuries. It is in his DNA, and that will never change.”

When asked to name the player who impressed him the most technically, Vallejo chose was Rodrygo, saying: “In small-sided training games, he showed incredible talent. He amazed me.”

When further probed if the 24-year-old stood out even more than Vinicius Jr. or Kylian Mbappe, he replied:

“In that sense, yes. He is extremely good and has outstanding qualities for the game.”

As such, Vallejo believes that Rodrygo should remain at Real Madrid and his future at the club should be secure.

“I do not want to speak out of turn, but Rodrygo has already proven his worth consistently. If he gets back to his best, he should be a key player for Madrid for many years.”

Vallejo also held deep admiration for Luka Modric, saying: “He is an example to everyone. Antonio Pintus, our fitness coach, used to say he could not believe what he saw when Luka trained or played. His physical capacity and stats were off the charts.

“He would arrive early at the training ground, took great care of his body, and it is no coincidence that he has lasted this long.”

The defender also noted how Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo left a similarly lasting impression, as he said:

“When I arrived at Madrid, he blew me away. I even tried to copy some of his routines. He was super methodical and disciplined, took care of himself like no one else, and knew how to manage his effort.

“He lived football 24 hours a day and took professionalism to the highest level possible.”

Despite moving on, Vallejo’s connection with Real Madrid remains strong, as he remarked:

“Of course. I will always be a Madridista and will even try to visit the Bernabeu whenever I can. I wish them the very best, and I hope they reach great success in this new era with Xabi Alonso.”