James Rodriguez Looks Every Bit Cristiano Ronaldo's Successor at Real Madrid

James Rodriguez Looks Every Bit
Cristiano Ronaldo's Successor at
Real Madrid

It was a celebration we'd seen often, James Rodriguez
jogging toward the corner flag, elbow tucked in, finger formed
like pistol pointing at the crowd. On previous occasions we'd
seen the celebration performed with verve, but this time it
was somewhat muted, coming in the middle of Real Madrid 's
mauling of Getafe in a game of little-to-no consequence on
the season's final day.
Yet, in this exhibition-like 90 minutes, the act preceding
Rodriguez's celebration had stood out, leaving behind it a
vivid image that felt like a forerunner for a future Real Madrid
will soon face.
In the moments earlier the Colombian had stood over a free-
kick, lining it up as though he was preparing to be the decoy.
This was Cristiano Ronaldo territory after all. Ronaldo's
domain. His area of authority. But Ronaldo then did the
unexpected, pausing and clearing the way for Rodriguez.
Appreciative, the 23-year-old curled it over the wall and past
Jordi Codina with astonishing ease. Goal. Celebration.
Two team-mates, separated by seven years but connected by
the Galactico tag, embraced.
At the time it felt symbolic, and with each day that passes it
continues to do so. Ronaldo will soon need a successor at
Real Madrid, someone to pass the torch to, someone to
whom he can hand over the keys to the kingdom. Coming off
a 61-goal season, the Portuguese isn't ready to do so just yet.
But when he is , when the time comes, Rodriguez is waiting,
primed to take them.
Overblown? Maybe. But consider the whole package; there's
something to it.

At Real Madrid there must be a headline act—something or
someone who can take Real's show of glamour to a place
nearly all others can't. The headline act must be a cocktail of
star power, worldwide appeal, good looks, marketing potential
and a penchant for the spectacular. Rodriguez is, and has, all
of those things. And he blends them together with an alluring
silkiness.
He's an archetypal Real Madrid star.
If you were to put together a showreel of the Colombian's
2014-15 season, it would be as eye-catching as nearly any in
Europe. There was his lashed volley from an absurd angle
at Los Carmenes against Granada; his swerving, long-range
thump at the Riazor against Deportivo La Coruna; his
outrageous, first-time blast at the Bernabeu against Almeria;
his dual one-two special at home against Malaga.
Naturally, the World Cup sensation's reel couldn't match the
sheer volume of Ronaldo's, the dazzling feet of Lionel Messi 's
or the tenacious power of Luis Suarez's. But maybe only Messi
could put together a more breathtaking visual package. On
highlights alone, Rodriguez had nearly every player on the
continent covered, accounting for practically half of Real
Madrid's most memorable strikes on his own.
What's more, he did it in just his first season at one of
Europe's behemoths. At 23. Following extreme scrutiny.
Burdened by a £63 million price tag.

When Ronaldo first made the switch to the Spanish capital
from Manchester United in 2009, the Ballon d'Or winner
totalled 33 goals and seven assists in his opening season,
playing as the focal point of the club's attack. After joining
from Monaco, Rodriguez tallied 17 and 16, respectively, his
total contribution similar while operating as one third of a
midfield three.
"The 3-in-1 James," Marca dubbed him, rejoicing in the way
he "runs, scores and assists." On that occasion, the Madrid-
based daily pictured Rodriguez in silvery-white armour, a
purple cape on his back, a Superman logo splashed across his
chest and a glow emanating from his outline.
"The Colombian cat arrived in a jungle with an overpopulation
of midfielders and took no time to let roar," Marca added, and
at other points labelled him "St. James," "James the
jellifier," "James—the great Whites' hope" and most
significantly, "King James," playing on the nickname of
another worldwide phenomenon.

Marca , of course, has never been shy to anoint a star, but the
regularity with which it did so last season was notable.
The 3-in-1 James: The Real Madrid nº10's
adaptation to his new team in his first season
couldn't have been better.

The Real Madrid nº10s adaptation to his new team in
his first season couldnt have been better.
View on web
It's easy to see why, too. Aside from the output, there's both
an industry and efficiency to Rodriguez's game that lends him
perfectly to a football world that's becoming more analytical
and data-driven by the week. Such qualities will also make
him a hit at the hypercritical Bernabeu.
Whereas Gareth Bale has become a polarising figure in
Chamartin because of a questionable defensive contribution,
Rodriguez's willingness to put in a shift, as the saying goes,
has endeared him to a fanbase very much accustomed to
over-indulged footballing icons.
Prepared to track back, tackle, harass and scrap, Rodriguez's
two-way commitment is indicative of that which is becoming
increasing necessary for the game's leading players at a time
when performances can be stripped to their bare bones by
almost anyone owning a computer and a web browser.
Take this for example: According to WhoScored.com , Bale
was significantly out-tackled by Rodriguez (26 to 40) in less
minutes in La Liga last season, and needed almost double the
shots (103 to 53) to score exactly the same number of goals
(13).

That bodes well for Rodriguez as a new-age star, his
efficiency already having a profound effect on the Real Madrid
outfit he's still only new to.
Yet, what's most tantalising about Rodriguez's potential is the
possibilities, the options, he will give to a team, a manager
and a club in the coming years.
When he arrived in Madrid, he was exclusively a No. 10, a
gifted technician who liked to sit behind the striker and
manipulate a game with his dazzling left boot. Twelve months
down the line, he's still that but also so much more. In
2014-15 he played on the left and the right; in central midfield
and attacking midfield and as a wide forward. He was a
roaring success in all of them; all that's left to show is an
ability to play as a false nine and he's mastered the set. Thus,
what Real Madrid are getting bundled with Rodriguez's
precocious individual flair is systematic versatility as the
Colombian gradually shifts toward the team's most prominent
role.
That shift may be 12 months from completion. It could be 24.
It could be more. What's clear is that it will need Ronaldo to
step aside to allow it do so, and Ronaldo still has so much to
offer Real Madrid.
But when the Portuguese is ready to hand over the keys to
the kingdom, Rodriguez looks every bit his natural successor,
the player ready to carry forward the Real Madrid star cocktail
and give it a modern twist.

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Rafa Nadal Can't Be Counted out in French Open QF Showdown vs. Novak Djokovic

If there's a French Open record to be held, it's likely that Rafael Nadal holds it. You've probably heard the statistics before. The Spaniard has won nine French Open titles in 10 years. He is an astonishing 70-1 at Roland Garros in his career, with his lone loss coming in 2009 in the fourth round to Robin Soderling.

And yet Wednesday in the quarterfinals, Nadal will be in a very unfamiliar position: underdog.

That's right: The match that everyone circled when the draw came out 10 days ago has come to fruition. In a rematch of the Roland Garrosfinal from two of the past three years and a repeat of the epic four-hour, 37-minute semifinal here two years ago, No. 1 Novak Djokovicwill try to get his first win at Roland Garros over No. 7 Nadal, with a spot in the French Open semifinals on the line.

Nadal advanced to the quarterfinals by taking out young American Jack Sock and his lethal forehand Monday in the fourth round, 6-3, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2. The dropped third set was Nadal's first of the tournament, though before meeting Sock all of his opponents were ranked lower than No. 100 in the world.

The 14-time Grand Slam champion hasn't looked as shaky during the French Open as he has at times this European clay-court season, a two-month period that has included zero titles and losses to Djokovic, Fabio Fognini, Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka. However, he also hasn't looked like the world-beater he has been in the past.

Djokovic, meanwhile, only dropped six games total in a fourth-round victory over Richard Gasquet on Monday. He continues to look like the same player who has dominated the men's game in 2015 and is currently riding a 26-match winning streak. 

It's Novak Djokovic v Rafael Nadal Part XLIV in the #RG15 QF Djokovic - 26 match winning run Nadal - 39 match winning run at Roland Garros

— Leigh Walsh (@LeighWalsh87) June 1, 2015

Now, the two will meet for the 44th time in their careers. Nadal leads the head-to-head 23-20, but the Serb has won five of their last six meetings. The only exception? Last year's final at Roland Garros.

Yup, this is one of those rare cases where the buzz for a match is actually justified. 

"There it is, the men's final, this Wednesday," Mary Carrillo said on Tennis Channel when Djokovic converted his match point againstGasquet to set up the blockbuster affair.

Of course, you can keep the hype to yourself—Nadal is having none of it.

"You can write what you want if it sells, but this is not the match of the year. Matches of the year are finals, decisive matches," Nadal told the press after his fourth-round win, per Christopher Clarey of the New York Times. 

It's natural that Nadal is trying to minimize the importance of this match. He's a guy who is used to playing for—and winning—trophies at this tournament, after all. He's also the one who got the short end of the stick with this draw. Nadal typically gets stronger as a tournament goes on, and now he's heading into a match against the world No. 1 without having faced a single seeded player this fortnight.

Clive Mason/Getty Images

Plus, Nadal's been the one who has had questionable form this year. He's the one without a significant title of any kind since the French Open last year. He's the one whose ranking has dropped, thus causing this premature meeting of superstars. He's the one we should be worried about, right?

I mean, Djokovic is sailing. He has won five titles this year: four Masters Series events and the Australian Open. Throughout the past few years, Djokovic has become at ease in the role of the favorite.

This year, now a father and a husband and content on and off the court, he's more focused than ever on winning a French Open title and completing his career Slam. Now he gets the chance to clear his biggest hurdle early in the second week, before the championship fanfare can take over. That, to my mind, is a big bonus.

And yet despite Nadal's suspect form and Djokovic's great run, and despite the way this draw played out, it's still hard to imagine a world in which Nadal loses to Djokovic at the French Open, as Peter Bodo ofTennis.com explained on the eve of the event:

The amazing thing about this tournament, most poignantly for Nadal himself, is that nobody can imagine him winning this year—yet nobody in his right mind can imagine him losing, either. Nadal is 66-1 at Roland Garros, has won this tournament nine of the last 10 years, and the last five years running. That means something. It suggests that Nadal just might be able to win this tournament even if Boris Becker and Severin Luthi kidnapped him and sawed his right leg off just above the knee on the night before his first match.

Nadal's domination at Roland Garros has been laughably absurd, but it's also become a given. It's part of the foundation of the tennis year. In a sport where so much changes, where upsets are everywhere and where Marin Cilic wins a Grand Slam, there's been comfort in counting on Nadal at the French Open.

David Vincent/Associated Press

So perhaps it's best if the statistics and the seeds are thrown out the window Wednesday. When Nadal first took the court at Roland Garrosback in 2005, nobody could have imagined that he would own the clay courts of Paris the way he has over the last decade. It's just not something that makes sense.

This year, for the first time since then, expectations are lower—but perhaps that's just us overthinking things. After all, it's still Nadal, and it's still Roland Garros. There's pure magic in that marriage.

Something will have to give Wednesday—Nadal's dominance in Paris or Djokovic's dominance in 2015. We're going to see a familiar matchup in a familiar setting, and yet the feeling surrounding it will be unusual.

It's easy to consider recent history and pick Djokovic for the win—and, admittedly, that's exactly what I did before this tournament began. But the closer we get to the anticipated showdown, the more foolish it feels to count out a nine-time champion.

Cristiano Ronaldo's evolution to a no. 9; Real Madrid's priority to adapt new CR7

Cristiano Ronaldo  walked steadily toward the sideline, a 16-year-old standing there waiting to replace him after the fourth official's board had displayed a No. 7. As he approached the touchline, those in the stands of the Santiago Bernabeu rose to their feet, clapping, chanting.

It was a rapturous applause. In the hour prior, Ronaldo's goals had guided Real Madrid through a bizarre period againstGetafe. The hosts had led, 1-0, thanks to the Portuguese's soaring header, but they quickly trailed, 2-1, the ever-lingering self-destructive nature of Real Madrid's defence exaggerated by the lack of sting in the contest. 

A peculiar embarrassment this could have been, but Ronaldo's response was both swift and lethal: two goals in three minutes; the first an exquisite free-kick from 25 yards, the second a well-taken penalty after Carlos Vigaray had brought down Javier Hernandez.

Order restored. 

Another hat-trick it was, Ronaldo's eighth of the season. His eighth. But it had also been more than that—it had been an emphatic signing off to an extraordinary personal season. Sixty-one goals in total, 48 of them in La Liga. Another Pichichi. Another Golden Shoe. His career tally in white now at 313. 

As such, the reception that met Ronaldo upon his exit wasn't your typical one. Fans can get to their feet for almost anyone, but this was different. It was a thank you, the Bernabeu essentially saying: weknow. 

Daniel Ochoa de Olza/Associated Press

It was also a rare opportunity for the Real Madrid faithful. Prior to Saturday, it had been 168 days since the Ballon d'Orwinner had been substituted at home, following a hat-trick against Celta Vigo on December 6. The time before that? Last April. Chances to express a special appreciation for Ronaldo at the Bernabeucome only biannually. 

Yet as the staggeringly prolific forward left the pitch on Saturday evening, there seemed to be a silent, universal question: Is this guy's historic talent being wasted?

Of Ronaldo's 313 goals for Real Madrid, 225 have come in La Liga. More extraordinary is that they've come in just 200 appearances. And yet, somehow, those galactic numbers have translated to just a single league title. 

"Real Madrid have failed Ronaldo," said Graham Hunter, a renowned journalist covering Spanish football, on Sky Sports'Revista de la Liga. Days later, Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff told De Telegraaf, viaGoal: "It's ridiculous that they [Real Madrid] have only won the league once in seven years." In itself, it's troubling. And in relation to Ronaldo, time is running out for Real Madrid to rectify it. 

When he switched the northwest of England for the Spanish capital, the Portuguese was 24, a barnstorming winger with outrageous physical gifts. But in 2015, that's not who he is. Now 30, he's older, wiser. Less spectacular, of course, but more efficient. He's evolved. 

Daniel Ochoa de Olza/Associated Press

In 2014-15, Ronaldo's evolution has seen him play considerably closer to goal. Charges down the left flank have been replaced with subtle movements within the box; long-distance strikes have become close, one-touch finishes; what were once bullet headers are now acts of a softer precision.

In some quarters, a degree of criticism has met the changes—something that's both utterly ridiculous and painfully short-sighted. Ronaldo is different now, yes, but different isn't worse. In fact, in this case, different might even be more effective. It's so easy to forget how difficult scoring is, let alone doing it 61 times. 

Ronaldo is now inescapably a No. 9. The world's finest No. 9, too. But might it be that one of the major factors contributing to an ultimately barren season for Real Madrid has been the club's failure to adapt to that transformation? 

In 2013-14, Real's triumphant 4-3-3 system under Carlo Ancelotti was a sight to behold. Of course, centrally, it was underpinned by Xabi Alonso and Angel Di Maria. But nonetheless, it was still a system defined by its front three, one of its keys the "bombing on" of Ronaldo andGareth Bale either side of KarimBenzema. 

Ronaldo's evolution this season, however, has drastically affected that dynamic. Closer to goal, away from the wing, Ronaldo no longer "bombs on." He essentially partners Benzema up top, but the system hasn't adapted accordingly. It's remained roughly a 4-3-3—sometimes a hybrid 4-4-2—but one that's become lopsided and slightly dysfunctional. 

Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Most of the time, Real Madrid's sheer level of talent has made that redundant. But not in the bigger games. Not against Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Valencia orJuventus. Evidently, the system needs work; the focal point is still the same guy, but that guy has changed. 

As such, Real Madrid are now facing a period in which the team's evolution must match that of Ronaldo. It will be the job of a new manager—Marca reports thatAncelotti's expected departure will soon be confirmed—to craft a system that caters for who the Portuguese is now, rather than for who he once was. The same goes for the club's transfer activity. New faces must be complementary to the new Ronaldo. 

Time is of the essence here, too. For LosBlancos still possess one of football's two most devastating weapons: a pillar that an entire club can be built around but are in danger of letting his phenomenal achievements amount to little collectively. Ronaldo has given Real Madrid everything, but it hasn't exactly been a two-way street.  

Ronaldo, from the player he was when he arrived, from the player he was just last season, has evolved. To fully harness it, Real Madrid will need to do the same.