1. There has been no statement from anyone at the club (president, manager etc.) even alluding to that. If you say "we are not counting on him next season" or something along those lines it would be clear. 2. Not only we didn't get another backup striker (which would make it clear to Mariano where he is) but we didn't even show interest in anyone, giving him the impression that we are happy with him. 3. We failed to anticipate what will happen with him and therefore missed the opportunity to put him on the market years ago when the interest would have been greater. The club is averse to squad turnover as a principle. 4. Probably most important - we don't believe in having a competition for places/true rotation
Mariano didn't want to leave when we signed 60 M Jovic with Benzema already at the club as our best scorer in 2019. It's naïve to think he would leave this summer when he was willing to waste his prime years on the bench lol. We could have signed Kane and Lewandowski alongside Benz and Mariano would still be happy to warm the bench and collect his 4.5 ME nett living in his Madrid mansion.
I agree, its a truly strange situation with Mariano. But I do see the club as enabling of this type of behaviour. Being loyal and family-like towards the players is a two edged sword; it could lead to greater attachment and motivation by the stars, but its easily exploited by surplus players which you then are forced to tolerate. A bit of ruthlessness would be nice to see from the club. That means more resolution when kicking out the deadwood, but also forcing the players to compete for places.
The club facilitated a move to Lacio, their officials confirmed it, we were even covering the difference in wages but his agent came out saying "Mariano will succeed in Madrid!" defiantly. It's safe to say that he wants to sit out his contract at this point. He's going to take the next best offer from Spain next summer and retire on it.
Mariano has a contract and he won't leave. Perez cannot do anything about it. So it is not being loyal toward the players. This is strictly a legal obligation. Jovic at least accepted a loan move. Mariano just wants the pay cheque.
As 4x4 said, its not just the money. He is also being pampered and he enjoys that. Who pampers him? The club. We criticize other clubs for being assholes towards their players (ex. Barca with Braithwaith) but it gets the job done and then hardly anyone remembers what happened. This is a serious business, so being assholes is part of the game. But the club's philosophy prevents it to tell a guy like Mariano that he will not be called up for games, or that he will be moved to the second team (something along the lines). The club is known for being soft; Casemiro said he wants to leave, we fulfill his wish two days later. Of course this is the "positive" side of its philosophy, but it spills over to cases like Mariano (or Asensio, Bale, Hazard...)
This stuff is a fairy tale though. We signed Tchouaméni and let Casemiro go. The only reason the club communicated this as a shock is because it sounds better to the fans.
What could Perez have done if the player refuses even a loan move? Send his lawyer to see Mariano, and if he disagrees, put a horse head in his bed? I don't mean Horse Head, our RMBS member.
🚨🥇| Rodrygo OUT of tomorrow's game. He threw up all night. @javiherraez— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) October 29, 2022 🎙️| Ancelotti: “Rodrygo will be available for tomorrow.” #rmalive— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) October 29, 2022
12 G/A in 16 matches (13 starts). Rodrygo szn. 🇧🇷🌟 pic.twitter.com/0ZoonU032n— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) November 4, 2022
Penalties won not included in assists. 2 assists vs El Che, 1 vs Shakhtar, 1 vs Espanyol and 1 vs Mallorca. He won three penalties (vs Barca, RB and Celtic) and converted all 3 from the spot.
🎙| Ancelotti: "Rodrygo's best position is as center forward or second striker. I see him more as a striker than as a winger, that's not his best position."— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) November 6, 2022
So I guess this means Valverde will fully transition to RW and we are going all in for Belingham in midfield. I like Rodrygo more on the wing where he can get the ball deep and to his feet, dribble and cross, but if someone is a good scorer its hard to argue to have him further from goal just to have more entertainment.
Are we sure about this? He is playing at such a high level in that fluid right wing/RCM role that he’s been touted as one of the best players in the world currently. Hard to think he’ll play better at CM.
Valverde skillset has predisposed him to be better at RW. I don't think he's good enough defensively to be one of a midfield three with what our current lineup is. His buildup play is fine but not outstanding. I've always thought Rodrygo should be an SS or a striker. He has a good final touch and good movement. He's restricted on the right. He's really not that fast for a young professional athlete at an elite club in the sport. Not fast enough for the hyper focus on speed and athleticism in the current state of the game. He brings other virtues to the table. I see Rodrygo's skillset to be similar to Raul.
It’s not even a pure RW role as we all can see. It’s a hybrid. And that’s where Fede’s unique skill set seems to be a perfect fit for this particular team and it’s midfield and LW dominated play.