Jese

Grading Jese Rodriguez's transfer to Paris Saint-Germain

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:44 p.m. ET

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Aaron West

Jese Rodriguez has signed with Paris Saint-Germain on a five-year deal, joining the French giants for a reported €25 million from Real Madrid.

Once touted as Real Madrid’s brightest young Spanish talent, Jese's career has been somewhat derailed by injuries. Still only 23 years of age, however, he's a versatile and dynamic attacker who will provide depth for PSG, while pushing for a starting spot in Unai Emery’s new-look side.

Jese broke into Real Madrid’s first team a year after breaking Emilio Butragueno's scoring record for Castilla in the 2012-13 season. He signed a new contract with the club, earning promotion to the first team, and hopes were high for the young man from Las Palmas. He featured infrequently in the first half of the season for Carlo Ancelotti, but found his stride after the winter break, even being strongly considered for Vicente Del Bosque’s 2014 World Cup side before tragically tearing his ACL and ending his Spain dreams.

Things quickly went downhill for the young canterano, and his minutes diminished every year, with Lucas Vazquez stepping into his role as super-sub. Zinedine Zidane himself urged him to move on saying: “If I was a friend or family member maybe I'd say to him to look for minutes elsewhere.”

Despite his limited minutes at Madrid, Jese remains a quality player, one who Emery will likely use in a variety of ways. Jese fits right into the new PSG manager’s preferred 4-2-3-1, able to play on either wing, behind a target man, or even as a lone striker if necessary. Technically proficient, a good dribbler and finisher, Jese’s versatility and willingness to work for the team make him the ideal signing for PSG, and at only 23 years of age, he still has plenty of room to grow and develop.

Grade: B+

Not a groundbreaking signing by any means, but to secure a player of Jese’s quality and experience for relatively cheap is a coup for PSG. Unai Emery gets an exciting young attacker who will push for a starting spot, can fill in at any number of positions, has plenty of room to develop and a chip on his shoulder to prove himself at the top level.

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