Early Career and Rise at Real Madrid
Jesé joined Real Madrid’s youth academy, La Fábrica, at the age of 14 in 2007. He quickly made a name for himself in the youth teams with his impressive performances and was promoted to Real Madrid Castilla, the club’s B team, by 2011. His ability to score goals and create chances led to comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of playing style, especially due to his speed and directness on the field.
Jesé made his first-team debut for Real Madrid in 2011, but it wasn’t until the 2013-2014 season under then-coach Carlo Ancelotti that he began to feature more regularly. During this season, Jesé showed flashes of brilliance, scoring important goals and providing assists, helping Real Madrid in their domestic and European campaigns. However, his breakthrough season was abruptly halted by a severe anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in March 2014, which sidelined him for several months. This injury marked the first significant setback in his career.
Post-Real Madrid: PSG and Loan Spells
In the summer of 2016, Jesé was sold to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for a reported fee of €25 million, as opportunities at Real Madrid had become limited with the presence of star forwards like Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, and Karim Benzema. His move to PSG was seen as a chance to reignite his career. However, things didn’t go as planned. Jesé struggled to adapt to life in Paris and found it difficult to secure regular playing time in a squad full of high-profile players like Edinson Cavani and Neymar.
In an attempt to regain form, Jesé went on multiple loan spells:
- Las Palmas (2017): A return to his hometown club was supposed to give him a fresh start, but while he had some moments of brilliance, his form was inconsistent.
- Stoke City (2017-2018): Jesé spent a season in the Premier League, but injuries and personal issues affected his time in England. He managed only one goal for the club.
- Real Betis (2019): Another stint in La Liga saw some improvement, but it wasn’t enough to secure a long-term future at Betis.
His time at PSG ultimately became frustrating as he never fully established himself in the first team, and he was released from the club in December 2020.
Later Career
Following his release from PSG, Jesé signed with Las Palmas in February 2021, hoping to restart his career. His time at the club was marked by mixed performances, and he later moved on to Sampdoria in Serie A.
In 2023, Jesé signed with Ankaragücü, a Turkish club, continuing his career in European football. Throughout these later stages of his career, Jesé has struggled to regain the consistency and explosive form that once made him a rising star at Real Madrid.
Style of Play
At his peak, Jesé was known for his explosive pace, technical skills, and ability to take on defenders. He was dangerous on the counter-attack and had a good eye for goal. His versatility allowed him to play across various attacking positions, but injuries, inconsistent form, and off-field distractions often hampered his development.
Off-Field Ventures and Music Career
Legacy and Reflection
Jesé Rodríguez's career is often seen as a story of "what could have been." Early in his career, he had the potential to become one of the top players in Europe, but injuries and a lack of consistency hindered his progress. While his journey has been tumultuous, Jesé remains a talented player who has left an imprint in several top European leagues. His ability to bounce back from setbacks speaks to his resilience, though he may never fully reach the heights that were once expected of him.
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