Taking a long Xabi Alonso pass down on his chest and sweeping the ball past the goalkeeper without breaking stride; scoring in the Camp Nou, Mestalla and San Mames; going off to a standing ovation with his name reverberating around the Santiago Bernabeu after scoring in the Cup semi-finals – these were things that were meant to happen to £83million summer signing Gareth Bale, instead they are happening to a kid called Jese Rodriguez.
The 20-year-old has impressed in his appearances this season, often playing in place of the injured Gareth Bale, that Spain boss Vicente Del Bosque is under a certain amount of pressure to call him up with a view to taking him to Brazil this summer.
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Potential: Jese celebrates scoring his goal against Real Madrid's city rivals Atletico last night - the Spaniard has been a revelation since breaking onto the scene
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Disappointing: Gareth Bale has struggled with injuries and many fans have shown their frustration
Jese was a new-born two decades ago when the last Real Madrid prodigy made it successfully into the first team. Since then strikers of the caliber of Alvaro Negredo, Juan Mata and Roberto Soldado have all emerged but ultimately had to seek their fortune elsewhere. Madrid supporters do not want the same thing to happen to Jese.
He has overtaken Alvaro Morata in the Madrid pecking order and most supporters agree that if one young player has to leave in the summer it should by the Arsenal target and not Jese who now has six goals in all competitions this season.
Those at Madrid who believe Morata still has some growing up to do have noted how Jese is maturing faster.
His post match media is always measured – after his cup goal he only wanted to talk about the incredible pass he had received from Angel Di Maria and in recent weeks he has made it clear he knows once Bale is fit he will be back behind him in the pecking order.
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Contrast: They came through at the same time, but Jese has seemingly matured more than Alvaro Morata
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Support: And the Bernabeu crowd have given him many rousing ovations
His versatility will help him break through permanently. He has the speed, agility, intelligence and physical strength to play in any of the front three positions in Carlo Ancelotti’s team. Del Bosque was at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, as was Bale. It could be this season that just as important as the Welshman who cost 100m, will be the kid from the Canary Islands who cost nothing.
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