Two weeks after the ceremony, Rodri offered his thoughts on why he felt he was the rightful winner over Vinicius Jr.
During an interview on Cope’s radio show El Partidazo, Rodri responded to questions about his merits for the Ballon d’Or following Manchester City’s Champions League victory. ..Continue Reading
The Spanish midfielder pointed to his consistent performances as the key reason he believes he edged out the Brazilian winger.
“I think consistency—I believe that’s the hardest thing in football. I’m not trying to pat myself on the back; when I haven’t been the best, I’ve said so.
“When I thought someone else deserved it, I’ve acknowledged that too. I believe I was the most consistent player that season,” the Spanish star admitted.
While acknowledging Vinicius’s good moments, Rodri emphasized why consistency is vital: “Maybe not with the highest peaks, and perhaps last season I had more important or standout moments, but in terms of consistency, I think so.
“But what do I know? It’s not for me to debate whether I deserved it or not.”
After winning the Ballon d’Or, Rodri faced criticism from some fans and media outlets for hosting a celebration, which was perceived by some as disrespectful toward Vinicius.
Addressing the controversy, the Spanish midfielder set the record straight: “I never disrespected anyone, and I truly respect Vinicius and Real Madrid.”
When asked who else he would have included in his top three Ballon d’Or selections, Rodri offered a shocking ranking.
While placing himself at the top, he ranked Real Madrid’s Dani Carvajal second and Vinicius Junior in third position. “I would vote for (Dani) Carvajal second, and yeah, Vinicius third,” Rodri revealed.
At 28 and at the peak of his career, despite dealing with an injury, Rodri was asked about his plans for the future.
Will he finish his career at Manchester City, or might he return to Spain to join Real Madrid, Barcelona, or Atletico Madrid?
“I don’t know. Sincerely, I like to live the present, I still have contract with my club, I’m very happy there, and since I’ve arrived to England, it felt like my home. However, in the end, closing or opening any door doesn’t make any sense.
“I feel really passionate while watchin the Spanish league, but the English one is special too. If anything were to force me to move, I’d have to think long and hard because I’m really comfortable there,” Rodri admitted.
