Real brings back 'El Chacho'

A familiar face returns to the Spanish capital with Real Madrid signing playmaker Sergio Rodriguez to a one-year deal the club announced Monday. Nicknamed 'El Chacho', Rodriguez (1.91 meters, 36 years old) arrives from AX Armani Exchange Milan, where he averaged 8.3 points and 4.5 assists in 34 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games last season. Rodriguez will begin his second stint with Los Blancos. In the first one, Rodriguez helped Real win the EuroLeague in 2015. That was one of four Final Four appearances and three consecutive trips to the EuroLeague championship game with Real. He was also chosen as the 2013-14 EuroLeague MVP and to the 2013-14 All-EuroLeague First Team.

Rodriguez has been to the Final Four three more times, twice with CSKA Moscow with which he won the title in 2019, and another time with Milan in 2021. Rodriguez started his career with Spanish side Estudiantes and also played for Portland, Sacramento, New York and Philadelphia in the NBA. He ranks third all-time in the EuroLeague in assists (1,561), sixth in scoring (3,434), seventh in steals (275) and fourth in three-point shots made (546). In 333 EuroLeague career games, Rodriguez has averaged 10.3 points and 4.7 assists. He helped Real win three Spanish League and four Spanish Copa del Rey titles, as well as the Intercontinental Cup in 2015. He won back-to-back VTB League titles with CSKA in 2018 and 2019 and helped Milan claim the Italian Cup crown in 2021 and 2022. 'El Chacho' has also been very successful with the Spanish national team, getting a gold medal at the 2006 World Cup and at EuroBasket 2015. He also helped Spain to an Olympic silver medal in 2012 and a bronze in 2016 and three more EuroBasket medals.