Rodinei adapts quickly at Santos, first choice within days and embraced by fans | OneFootball

Rodinei has needed barely a fortnight to settle at Santos, establishing himself as first choice right-back and impressing during a run of five wins and one draw in the last six Campeonato Brasileiro rounds.

He arrived on five September, then started four days later in a win over Atlético-MG in the first leg of the Copa Sul-Americana quarter-finals, moving ahead of Igor Vinícius, Davizinho and Gabriel Menino. According to Globo.com, he has featured in four matches so far.

During the Fifa break he expressed happiness with his new chapter, noting that 16 days in there had been errors and successes but the target remains to win. He is striving to adapt quickly to keep helping and voiced optimism that big things are to come.

On the pitch he has married technique with work rate, providing an attacking outlet on the right. Off it, his charisma and efforts to understand the supporters have connected, and after the quarter-final exit he spoke publicly following the defeat to Atlético-MG at Arena MRV.

He has also been warmly received by the fanbase, with Gabigol publicly thanking him for understanding what it means to represent Santos.

At his unveiling he reflected that being labelled a joker once counted against him, yet he is comfortable with his personality. He stressed that he likes to keep things light but on the pitch it is all work and sacrifice, and he wants to be judged only on performances, adding that if form dips he tones down the jokes but will not change who he is.

Source: Globo.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”