Brazilian Rodrygo primed to make highly anticipated international debut

With less than a week to go until Brazil come face to face with South Korea, the Brazilian first team squad are now training in the UAE capital as Brazilian wonderkid Rodrygo set to make his international  debut.

The highly-anticipated match will take place on Nov. 19 at the Abu Dhabi’s Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium.

It has been quite a few weeks for 18-year-old, Rodrygo.  From scoring the perfect hat-trick for Real Madrid in the Champions League (the youngest Brazilian to ever do so) to being called up for the first time to the Brazilian national squad, most would be at  risk of over confidence yet Rodrygo remains grounded and focused on the job ahead.

Rodrygo said: “I have prepared myself on the pitch by practicing every day, which I am sure every other player has done as well but I’ve also prepared myself off the pitch. I don’t let things go to my head or let my mind be run by my emotions - my father helped  me a lot with this. He was a player and I could see what happened to his career, so it helped me to use his experience to use in my career.”

The Real’s  forward has had a fantastic start to life at the Bernabeu typified by his sensational three goal rout against Galatasaray and has been seen by many as Real’s answer to their lack of goals in the post-Cristiano Ronaldo era.

“It’s really hard to be Cristiano Ronaldo. I would have loved to have played with him, but I do not want to carry this pressure with me. I want to be a great player for Real Madrid and Brazil one day, but I am still developing, and I know I need to improve  and grow in my career.

“I’m feeling really happy with life at the moment. It’s every Brazilian’s dream to wear this shirt and now I am here with these players that I have watched since I was a child. I’m really happy.”

Rodrygo has now had two training sessions with the Brazilian national team at Al Wahda’s home ground, Al Nahyan Stadium, and looks primed to make his international debut in either of their next two friendlies against the Argentina in Saudi Arabia or South Korea  in Abu Dhabi.

Thousands of football fans are expected to flock to the capital next week to see Brazil take on the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter-finalists, South Korea who will be led by Premier League star Son Heung-min.

Additionally, the world’s most famous jersey will be  represented by a first team squad that is expected to include global icons and the most famous names in world football such as Gabriel Jesus, Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino, Thiago Silva and Alisson.

Tickets and hospitality packages for the match, that will take place at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 19.

In March 2017, with the first team regulars in Peru for a Copa Libertadores match against Sporting Cristal, he was called up to the first team by manager Dorival Júnior to complete training.

He signed his first professional contract in the same year, after agreeing to a five-year deal. On Nov. 1, he was promoted to the main squad by interim manager Elano.

Rodrygo made his first team – and Serie A – debut on Nov. 4 2017, coming on as a late substitute for Bruno Henrique in a 3–1 home win against Atletico Mineiro.

The following Jan. 25 he scored his first senior goal, netting a last-minute winner in a 2–1 Campeonato Paulista away win against Ponte Preta.

Rodrygo made his Copa Libertadores debut on March 1 2018, replacing Eduardo Sasha in a 2–0 away loss against Real Garcilaso.

Fifteen days later he scored his first goal in the tournament, netting his team’s second through an individual effort in a 3–1 win against Nacional at the Pacaembu Stadium.

He scored his first goal in the main category of Brazilian football on 14 April 2018, netting the last in a 2–0 home win against Ceará. He scored a hat-trick and also assisted Gabriel’s last goal in a 5–2 home routing of Vitoria.