Five Brazilian football experts explain what makes Rodrygo so special

Rodrygo Goes will join Real Madrid this summer, finally making the move from Santos to the Spanish capital after his rights were acquired last summer.

There are high expectations for the 18-year-old, who is thriving under Jorge Sampaoli and who has scored four goals and provided two assists this year.

To learn more about the forward and his style of play, MARCA spoke to five journalists who are experts in Brazilian football and who have been witnesses to the teenager's rise.

This is what they had to say about Real Madrid's future star.

Orion Pires: He has no fear when it comes to taking responsibility

Orion Pires is a former reporter for Esporte Interativo and was pitchside for Rodrygo's debut, while he also did a report with the player at his school.

"The first thing to say about Rodrygo is that he has the ability and has no fear when it comes to taking responsibility," Pires said.

"He takes on opponents and almost always leaves them behind.

"He's quick as well and is a great finisher, although Real Madrid fans have to understand that he is not a No.9.

"Whether on the left or on the right, he is a player who always contributes to destabilising the other team's defence because he can move past his markers and create superiority."

Although Pires loves what he has seen so far from the player, he does wonder if this move to Spain is coming too soon.

"It's clear that he'll develop a lot at Real Madrid, but I think another season in Brazil would help him mature," he stated.

"Rodrygo is young and has great potential, there's no denying that.

"But I think continuing with Sampaoli, who does know Spanish football well, would allow him to arrive better-prepared to Real Madrid."

Klaus Richmond: His ideal position is on the left

For Klaus Richmond, a journalist with Folha do Sao Paulo, Rodrygo is a typical graduate of Santos' school of wide men and he says he is like Robinho or Neymar.

"He likes to play on the left and I think that is his ideal position," Richmond explained.

"That's what happened back in the day with Neymar and Robinho.

"But he can play in alternative positions and has also played on the right or as a false No.9 or in the centre for Santos.

"He almost always performs well, although I think the regular altering of his position has negatively affected his goals tally.

"He has scored just 15 goals in 75 matches with Santos.

"I don't think he'll improve on those numbers in his first season in Europe.

"Given that he'll play less regularly than he has in Brazil and will do so against stronger opponents, I can't see him scoring many goals in his first season."

Despite this, Richmond thinks he'll still be useful thanks to his dribbling skills.

"He has dribbling ability, there's no doubt about that," he said.

"He's very good when going one against one.

"He dribbles with ease and has a spectacular ability to change direction.

"He can bring the ball forward stuck to his foot at great speed."

Bruno Rodrigues: He is better at scoring than Vinicius

Another journalist who knows the young forward very well is Bruno Rodrigues, also of Folha do Sao Paulo, and he compared Rodrygo to Vinicius.

"His main quality is his individual play and his ability to burst away on the sides," he said of the Santos man.

"He is similar to Vinicius in my opinion because he always takes players on and tries to move away and look for the opposition goal.

"He has greater finishing than Vinicius, as he takes on goalscoring situations better than his colleague.

"He is a very young player and only just turned 18 in January, so he is a player who is developing and who is still polishing his skills.

"He needs to mature in Madrid to show in potential and there's a need to have calm.

"I'm sure that he's one of the main breakout talents in the recent years of Brazilian football, but he still hasn't played much professional football and there's a need for maturity at the top level."

Wolney Lima: He has the potential to score 20 goals

Wolney Lima works for Santa Cecília TV and for the Santos sports ministry and he is also optimistic about the forward's ability to put the ball in the back of the net.

"He could always score with ease in the youth levels," he stated.

"He scored 24 times in 22 matches with the Under-17s, so he can certainly finish.

"I think he has the potential to score 20 goals [a season] at Real Madrid.

"Maybe not in his first year, but in the future.

"There's a need for patience, but he is a great player when one on one."

Bruno Lima: He is a good player, but not a superstar

Bruno Lima of Jornal A Tribuna de Santos is slightly less optimistic about the future Real Madrid player.

While he did agree that the Brazilian has great dribbling ability, he wasn't sure if he'd go on to become one of the very best in the game.

"He is dangerous on the left, but has been disappointing on the right," Lima said.

"I don't see him as ready to play for Real Madrid.

"He had four brilliant months in 2018, but his performances haven't justified such a high fee since Real Madrid bought him."

Lima hopes he's wrong and that Rodrygo can be a top-class superstar and he points to the player's positive surroundings as one factor that could take him to the top.

"He has a great family and is very polite and obedient," he said.

"For me he is a good player, just not a superstar."