Jesús Rodríguez: The 'pearl' of Betis that could revolutionize Barcelona

Jesús Rodríguez is becoming one of the great surprises of Real Betis in the 2024/25 season. The 19-year-old player has scored 3 goals and provided 3 assists in 26 matches (1,613 minutes) with Manuel Pellegrini's side and, in recent weeks, has established himself in the Chilean coach's starting XI. His recent performances in LaLiga have sparked the interest of FC Barcelona and other top clubs in Europe, as his value remains relatively low.

This 2025, the Sevilla native has started in four of the five league matches played by Betis, scoring a goal against Alavés. In the Cup, he played the full 90 minutes in the defeat against Barça (5-1), a match where he had little impact against the overwhelming dominance of the Catalans. However, the 'verdiblanco' team hopes to update his contract soon, as although the midfielder signed until 2029, his release clause is only 15 million euros.

This is how Jesús Rodríguez plays, the 'new Joaquín'

Due to his characteristics on the field, Rodríguez has been compared to Betis legend Joaquín Sánchez. He is a classic midfielder, very skillful with the ball at his feet, difficult to contain in one-on-one situations and with a notable ability to create danger by entering the area. He can also play comfortably as a winger or 'false 9', as he is quite skilled in finishing and has a notable shot. Although he is right-footed, he prefers to lean towards the left side of the field.

In that sense, he has similar qualities to those of Fermín López, although the player from Huelva shows greater commitment to recovery and marking. Jesús, on the other hand, is a creative midfielder, who is always positioned in the opponent's half to take charge of his team's play. In addition to his dribbling, the '17' of Betis also has a notable vision on the field to combine with his teammates. With the 'verdiblanco' reserve team, he scored 9 goals and provided 3 assists in 36 matches.