Blow of reality for an Atlético de Madrid youth player: without minutes in LaLiga

He is likely one of the Atlético de Madrid youth gamers most cherished by his followers, however the actuality in skilled soccer is typically harsher than what the guts dictates. Rodrigo Riquelme remains to be removed from the declare he wished when he landed at Betis final summer season.

The Madrid attacker, who was on the lookout for the continuity in Heliópolis that he didn’t find yourself having with Cholo Simeone, has hit a wall: he has performed simply over a thousand minutes thus far this season and is one in every of Manuel Pellegrini’s “forgotten” gamers for months.

Goodbye to a crimson and white stage

After his loans to Bournemouth, Mirandés and Girona, “Roro” wished to place an finish to his time as a crimson and white participant. He performed a complete of 75 video games as a colchonero, leaving unforgettable highlights like that MVP in opposition to Feyenoord or the objective in opposition to Actual Madrid that sealed the spherical of 16 of the Copa del Rey. Nevertheless, he by no means earned the complete belief of Simeone, who used him in a number of positions: wingback, inside and even second striker. In the long run, though he was a really cherished boy, each events understood that it was greatest to discover a method out.

Betis took the lead in an operation that concerned the departure of Johnny Cardoso in the other way. Whereas the North American signed for Atlético, Riquelme headed to Seville. However Manu Fajardo’s wager to provide the left-footed winger a qualitative leap has not gone as anticipated. The present actuality is that Abde is sort of untouchable in that place and Roro’s final begin within the League dates again to mid-December in Vallecas. Cardoso, for his half, between accidents and breaks, has not fairly began, though he has been key within the final month for Atlético.

Between the shadow and the sparkles in Copa

At 25 years previous, Riquelme has not taken that step ahead that everybody anticipated in Seville. His punch has appeared in brushstrokes, with six objectives in whole, however with the nuance that 5 of them have been within the Copa del Rey. Within the League, that dream of succeeding with Pellegrini and showing on Luis de la Fuente’s lists has been fading. The Rioja coach, who at all times trusted him, appears to have left him out of his present plans as a result of lack of minutes.

CONFIRMED: Rodrigo Riquelme will play for Betis https://t.co/UORJEiIXWy

— ⚽Juan⚽ (@Juanarrien9) June 28, 2025

Pellegrini has drawn up his personal plan, even making an attempt it as a playmaker, the place he gave an help on the primary day, however since then, nearly nothing. Though he has a contract till 2030 and the membership hopes {that a} extra environment friendly model of the winger who price near eight million euros will seem, the excitement is already ringing in Seville. It will not be unusual if the Seville crew listened to provides for a participant who, for the second, continues to dwell within the shadows, simply as occurred at Atlético de Madrid.