Not Vinicius, not Mbappe, Brazil legend names €100m-rated star as Real Madrid’s driving force | OneFootball

Brazilian legend Cafu has lavished praise on Rodrygo, hailing the Real Madrid forward as a key spark in Carlo Ancelotti’s team.

Despite flying under the radar this season—particularly with Kylian Mbappe’s high-profile arrival—Rodrygo continues to play a vital, albeit underappreciated, role for Los Blancos.

Cafu, speaking to the media, described Rodrygo as the real ‘motorzinho’ – a small packet of energy that gets Real Madrid going.

With Vinicius, Jude Bellingham, and now Mbappe grabbing the headlines, Rodrygo’s name has been somewhat eclipsed, especially after a dip in goal-scoring form.

Cafu’s praise

Cafu has praised Rodrygo. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Nevertheless, Cafu sees beyond the statistics, recognising Rodrygo’s value in creating fluidity and balance in Ancelotti’s setup.

“When Rodrygo plays, Vinicius works, Valverde too, the same with Mbappe and also with Bellingham,” he said.

“When Rodrygo is not very well, Real Madrid have a lot of difficulty articulating the plays. He has become a fundamental piece.”

Ancelotti, aware of the recent stagnation in Rodrygo’s form, is reportedly contemplating a return to the 4-4-2 formation that brought great success last season—particularly in high-stakes matches.

This could help restore Rodrygo’s influence while also creating tactical flexibility for the manager ahead of the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona.

Cafu’s take on Endrick

Endrick has struggled for game time at Real Madrid. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Cafu also touched on Endrick, another Brazilian prodigy whose move to the Santiago Bernabéu has been met with both excitement and scepticism.

Despite Endrick boasting a strong goal-per-minute ratio, he’s struggled to secure the confidence of Ancelotti and is still waiting for a clear breakthrough.

But Cafu believes there is no need for panic. “Of course it was a great option for him to go to Real Madrid! He is not in any team. He is young and surrounded by good teammates,” the former World Cup winner said.

“These types of young players just need to be patient. If he has the potential and the ability to listen, he will become one of Real Madrid’s great footballers,” he said.

*Player valuation in title obtained from transfermarkt.com on the date of publication.

Source: SPORT