Real Madrid forward Jese Rodriguez may be on his way out of the club, with Ligue 1 champions PSG showing a lot of interest in the 23-year-old, according to reports from France.
The 23-year-old has reportedly grown frustrated at the lack of playing time at the Santiago Bernabeu last season. While Jese made a total 28 appearances for Los Blancos in the previous league campaign, most of them were off the bench. In fact, he got only seven starts in the league.
Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane himself admitted that he would not stand in the Spaniard’s way if he wants a move away from the club.
“If he wants to leave a play more, I don’t know,” Zidane was quoted as saying in the Evening Standard on Thursday, after Los Blancos suffered a 3-1 loss at the hands of PSG. “It’s our first game. He’s here, he played. Everyone’s here – that’s all I can say now.”
Interestingly, it is PSG who are interested in signing the Spanish forward, after their first choice striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic moved to Manchester United on a free transfer. Newly appointed PSG manager Unai Emery revealed in a recent interaction with the media that he is indeed looking into the possibility of Jese, a player he has watched closely during his time in La Liga as the boss at Sevilla.
“It’s [Jese Rodriguez transfer] a possibility, as [are] others during this transfer window. I know him well, the club also. He is a good player, it’s a possibility,” Emery said to French national daily L’Equipe.
Jese Rodriguez is a versatile player who can operate both on the wings as well as up front. However, with the likes of Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale monopolising the three attacking positions at Real Madrid, it seems difficult for a player like Jese to hone his talent in the Spanish capital.
Kovacic to stay at the Bernabeu
Like Jese, Kovacic had also struggled to gain match-time at Real Madrid last season. The Croatia international made 25 appearances in the La Liga last season, but as many as 17 of them were off the bench.
This lack of opportunity has lead Kovacic to be linked with a move to top European clubs like Liverpool, Juventus, and AS Roma. However, Kovacic’s agent Nikky Vuskan revealed that his client is prepared to fight for his spot in Zidane’s starting lineup.
“Rumours are always common in the summer market. But Kovacic is [staying] in Madrid; the coach trusts him, helps him and supports him,” Vuskan said to Croation publication Sportske Novosti [via Marca]. “I have not spoken to the club [about his future] – there is no need to. Mateo is working to earn a place in the team like everyone other than Cristiano [Ronaldo], who is the only certainty.”
Interestingly, Kovacic faces competition from Luka Modric and Germany international Toni Kroos at Real Madrid. Modric, who is Kovacic’s teammate in the Croatian national team, is on the wrong side of his 30s (age) now. Zidane could be eyeing the younger Croat as a possible long term replacement for the former Tottenham Hotspur star.
