Jesé Rodríguez: A Career of Promise, Injury, and a Return to Las Palmas

This August marks a decade since Jesé Rodríguez departed Real Madrid, a poignant reminder of unrealized potential. Once heralded as a rising star, even challenging the established ‘BBC’ forward line of Bale, Benzema, and Cristiano Ronaldo, his career trajectory was dramatically altered by a severe knee injury sustained in a Champions League match against Schalke 04 in 2014. After a nomadic journey that took him to France, England, Portugal, Turkey, Italy, Brazil, and Malaysia, Jesé has returned to UD Las Palmas, the club from his homeland, with aspirations of securing promotion and potentially concluding his professional career where it began.

A Promising Start at Real Madrid

Jesé Rodríguez Ruiz, born on February 26, 1993, in Las Palmas, Spain, progressed through the Real Madrid academy, making his debut with the senior team in 2011. He accumulated 63 appearances for Real Madrid across all competitions, scoring 13 goals. His early performances were impressive enough to suggest he could become a key player for the club, even surpassing the goal tallies of Emilio Butragueño during his time with Real Madrid Castilla .

The Kolasinac Injury and Its Aftermath

A pivotal moment in Jesé’s career arrived during a Champions League match against Schalke 04 in March 2014. A challenge from Sead Kolasinac resulted in a serious knee injury that sidelined him for an extended period . This injury, as Jesé himself has stated, significantly hampered his development and opportunities .

A Career of Loans and Transitions

Following his recovery, Jesé’s career took a winding path, marked by a series of loan spells. He had stints at Paris Saint-Germain (2016-2020), returning briefly to Las Palmas in 2017, Stoke City (2017-2018), Real Betis (2019), and Sporting CP (2019-2020). These moves failed to reignite his early promise, and he subsequently played for Las Palmas (2021-2022), Ankaragücü (2022-2023), Sampdoria (2023), Coritiba (2023), and Johor Darul Ta’zim (2024-2025) before his latest return to Las Palmas.

Return to Las Palmas and Reflections on Real Madrid

Currently playing for UD Las Palmas in the Segunda División, Jesé expressed his happiness and the trust placed in him by the club’s president . He also weighed in on recent events at Real Madrid, specifically the controversy surrounding Vinícius Júnior and a potential racist incident involving Prestianni. Jesé suggested that Vinícius is unlikely to fabricate such an event and found the gesture of covering one’s mouth to be “very suspicious.”

He also discussed his past relationship with José Mourinho, acknowledging occasional disagreements but ultimately recognizing the Portuguese manager as a “excellent guy” who helped him learn and develop. Jesé contrasted the personalities of former Real Madrid teammates Xabi Alonso and Álvaro Arbeloa, noting Arbeloa’s more fiery temperament and praising both for their potential as future coaches.

Looking Ahead

Jesé remains hopeful of securing promotion with Las Palmas and harbors a desire to return to the Santiago Bernabéu, the stadium where he once captivated fans. He recognizes the challenges of the Segunda División but believes that the league’s increased competitiveness and improved player quality offer opportunities for success. As of November 17, 2025, Jesé has made 5 appearances for Las Palmas this season, scoring no goals .