After a long experience in clubs of the stature of Milan, PSV Eindhoven and Torino, in addition to extensive international experience, Ricardo Rodríguez landed at Real Betis last summer as an interesting market opportunity which raised great expectations. He also did it at zero cost, signing for two seasons to complete, together with Perraud, the complete renovation of the left-handed side. But his first months in Heliopolis have confirmed that He is behind the Frenchman in Manuel Pellegrini’s preferences.
The footballer born in Zürich, although of Galician origin, has not started in LaLiga since the derby played at the beginning of October, which was his fifth league match since the beginning. Then, he only enjoyed a minute during the visit to Osasuna and He has remained on the bench, without playing, in the last three days, acting meanwhile with the ‘B unit’ both in the Copa del Rey and in the Conference League, against Copenhagen and Celje.
Reaches 125 games for Switzerland
This situation, however, is not an obstacle for the 32-year-old defender continues to be a fixture for Murat Yakin in the Swiss national team, with which this past Monday he reached 125 games in the defeat against Spain. He will return to the green and white discipline, therefore, loaded with minutes (89 against Serbia and 90 against the ‘Roja)hoping to turn the tables and gain the trust of the ‘Engineer’.
At the same time, Ricardo Rodríguez assumes that the change of cycle in the Swiss combined will take timeor until their young values take hold. After Yann Sommer, Fabian Schär and Xherdan Shaqiri retired, Only he, Granit Xhaka and Remo Freuler remain from the old guard. But after qualifying for the last five World Cups and missing only one of the last five Euro Cups, the performance in the Nations League has been very poor (two draws and four defeats), confirming their relegation to League B.
He wants to be in the 2026 World Cup
“It was a good game for the fans to enjoy. I think that 2-2 was a good result for both of us and that we played well, but we know that Spain is a good team and now we have to concentrate on qualifying for the World Cup,” said the Betic defender after the match in statements to telesportwhere despite everything he made it clear that the great challenge is to be present at the 2026 World Cup to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico: “There are many young and new players coming. It’s okay, because they have to get there and that’s how you grow, playing. As I say, now it’s time to work to prepare well for qualifying for the World Cup.”he sentenced.