Real Marid superstar Rodrygo talks Cristiano Ronaldo and first Brazil call-up

Sport360 staff 12:34 13/11/2019
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  • Rodrygo

    With less than a week to go until Brazil comes face to face with Korea Republic, the Selecao first team squad are now training in the UAE capital with Real Madrid wonderkid Rodrygo set to make his international debut.

    The highly-anticipated match will take place on November 19 at Abu Dhabi’s Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium. Football fans can buy their tickets on www.ticketmaster.ae starting from Dh150.

    It has been quite a few weeks for 18-year-old, Rodrygo. From scoring the perfect hat-trick for Real Madrid in the Champions League (the youngest Brazilian to ever do so) to being called up for the first time to the Brazil senior squad, most would be at risk of over confidence yet Rodrygo remains grounded and focused on the job ahead.

    Rodrygo said: “I have prepared myself on the pitch by practicing every day, which I am sure every other player has done as well but I’ve also prepared myself off the pitch. I don’t let things go to my head or let my mind be run by my emotions – my father helped me a lot with this. He was a player and I could see what happened to his career, so it helped me to use his experience to use in my career.”

    The Real Madrid forward has had a fantastic start to life at the Bernabeu typified by his sensational three-goal rout against Galatasaray and has been seen by many as Madrid’s answer to their lack of goals in the post-Cristiano Ronaldo era.

    “It’s really hard to be Cristiano Ronaldo. I would have loved to have played with him, but I do not want to carry this pressure with me. I want to be a great player for Real Madrid and Brazil one day, but I am still developing, and I know I need to improve and grow in my career.

    “I’m feeling really happy with life at the moment. It’s every Brazilian’s dream to wear this shirt and now I am here with these players that I have watched since I was a child. I’m really happy.”

    Rodrygo has now had two training sessions with the Brazilian national team at Al Wahda’s home ground, Al Nahyan stadium, and looks primed to make his international debut in either of their next two friendlies against Argentina in Saudi Arabia or South Korea in Abu Dhabi.

    Thousands of football fans are expected to flock to the capital next week to see Brazil take on the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter finalists, South Korea who will be led by Premier League star Son Heung-min.

    Additionally, the world’s most famous jersey will be represented by a first team squad that is expected to include global icons and the most famous names in world football such as Gabriel Jesus, Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino, Thiago Silva and Alisson.

    Tickets and hospitality packages for the match, that will take place at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on November 19, are available on www.ticketmaster.ae.

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