He's also way too young to have any sort of voice or opinion. Just arrived to the team also, what's he supposed to say "hey man I just met you but thanks for everything, I was 14 when you retired but all those memories of you at your peak that I wasn't there for were surely influential in my upbringing". All those statements are really nonsense if you break it down really.
Now we get to see what he is capable of. And considering his age, I have never seen any of our RW be so engaged and involved on that side for almost the entire game. Not even Rodrygo on his good day (I'm talking involvement only, not end product) because he tends to fade in and out during a game.
No but something like "thanks for bringing me here and putting me in the first eleven since day one mister, you helped me grow as a player" would have been nice (and true). He is young but he is very confident and vocal on the pitch. I assume he wanted more to get in the good book of his star teammates rather in that of the departing coach which makes sense. Still though.
His shot was a big strength in Argentina, and Xabi said he has an excellent left foot. The tools are there, hopefully he stops rushing the shot.
Going off-topic here, but the problem was Perez thought he had Vieira wrapped up, but he changed his mind at the last minute. "I was really close to leaving for Madrid the year before I left. The deal was done between the two clubs, so when it was time for me to leave I changed my mind because I believed that I wanted to stay at Arsenal, I wanted to finish my career at Arsenal. I didn't see any reason to leave, I don't know if it was lack of courage to go. If I had known I was leaving [Arsenal] the year after, I would have gone to Madrid." [article] "It just so happens that in football, sometimes you make a decision. You have opportunities and you make a decision. I was too happy at Arsenal. Everything was very good. I was at home and didn't want to leave at that time. If I look back on my career, it might be one of my regrets not having gone to Real Madrid at that time." [article]
The new Di Maria? I love me some Franco, he's constanty making runs and pressing like a crazy man. He's still obviously very raw but I think he will be an important player for us this season already. Slim Shady is back.
I think he will become indispensable for us very quickly. I can see him taking that RW position eventually. He helps the balance of the team with Vini and Mbappe up front.
He wasn't signed by Xabi, eventually somebody else flew out there, met him, negotiated etc. He coached him for about 4 months, "helped me grow and believed in me" it doesn't get more pretentious than that. Guy barely knew him.
@theMadridZone Mastantuono: "I'm not the new Messi, but I'm not the worst signing in Real Madrid history either." Idk who called him Messi but I actually like comparison with ADM. Would be great if he turns out to be like him.
I think its crystal clear that the guy is only here because Xabi liked him and thought he was player he could work with and mentor. Otherwise it didn't make a whole lot of sense for the club to gamble big on a teenage south american starlet "project" when there were more pressing needs. Hopefully he can find his feet now that there's a new manager and hopefully doesn't become disillusioned if in a few months he has to "prove" himself under a new manager with Jude Bellingham, Nico Paz, Arda Guler, Endrick and Gonzalo Garcia and all competing for jobs and minutes in attack on the front line.
A lot of the great stuff he does is off the ball, whilst he also (was) in previous games making mistakes on the ball and decision making, which is very natural for a player of his age, in his first season here. I think he has an indirect influence on others working hard off the ball and collectively pressing at the right times. I think he'll eventually become a starter for us. The question is whether it will be as a RW or more centrally.
The makings/talent of a special player seem to be there, and definitely a profile we could use. But also let's be patient with such a young player. There will be bad games eventually.
I’ve said this before — he reminded me of Higuaín in his first season. They were different types of players, but because of their attitude. Both understood that they need to prove themselves and earn their playing time by doing the extra things on the field.