Speaking to The Players' Tribune, Rodrygo's youth coach at Santos, Luciano Santos, has opened up on the Brazilian's early days in football.
"At the start Rodrygo struggled with his temper," Mr Santos said.
"I remember we were playing a U12 game against Cotia and their coach started talking trash. 'You’re no good, you’re a show-off!' I was like, 'Poor guy, he’s messing with the wrong kid'.
"Rodrygo got the ball inside his own half and danced past one, two, three players… whoever got in his way, he dribbled. He scored. Then he ran all the way over to the Cotia bench and found the coach.
"He was like, 'What did you say? What did you call me?? Who’s laughing now???' Afterwards I asked Rodrygo, 'Why did you tell the coach that? That’s not cool.' Rodrygo was like, 'He was having a go at me!'
"I said, 'Kid, if you score goals like that every time someone shouts at you, I will start having a go at you as well. Do you want that?' He just laughed and said, 'No need, Coach. No need.'"
