Manchester City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, asserts that Rodri surpasses all others as the premier midfielder globally due to his versatility beyond his renowned holding role.
Since his arrival from Atletico Madrid in 2019, the 27-year-old has emerged as a cornerstone in Manchester City’s lineup.
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With 237 appearances under his belt, he has consistently demonstrated reliability, featuring in over 50 matches in three of his four completed seasons thus far.
While he may not capture the spotlight like Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, or Phil Foden, Rodri’s significance to the team is evident in Manchester City’s undefeated streak spanning over 12 months whenever he’s on the field.
Guardiola understandably expresses delight in his compatriot’s contributions, affirming that Rodri isn’t merely the premier holding midfielder but the finest midfielder overall, given his multifaceted impact beyond anchoring the midfield.
‘I would say if the holding midfielder doesn’t get the same appreciation as the strikers or the number 10 then that is good. When a holding midfielder has a lot of appreciation, it is not good,’ said Guardiola.
‘The holding midfielder has to play positive, for him and for the team, and make the team play. This is the role for the holding midfielders. All the highlights have to be for the guys up front who score goals and make assists and so on.
‘But Rodri always has the ability in important moments to score goals so he’s an unbelievable player. He’s the best midfield player in the world currently by far because he is able to do everything.
‘What a signing. It’s difficult to understand how we could have done what we have done in recent years without him.’
Rodri’s most prolific goal-scoring season for City occurred in 2021-2022, where he scored seven times across all competitions.
However, he is poised to surpass that record this campaign, having already scored six goals. His most recent goal proved pivotal, securing a late equalizer in the 1-1 draw against Chelsea on Saturday evening.
