Manchester City lynchpin Rodri has had his say on Arsenal counterpart and rival Declan Rice as he compared himself with the England international.
The duo are regarded as the top holding midfielders in the Premier League, if not in global football.
Spanish international Rodri joined Manchester City in 2019 after his £62.6 million release clause was activated, making the move from Atletico Madrid.
Since then, Rodri has become an essential player for City, scoring 26 goals in 257 appearances across all competitions. He has won four Premier League titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup, and two League Cups.
At 28, he has also secured victories with Spain, including the Nations League and the recent European Championship. His achievements have earned him a spot among the Ballon d’Or nominees.
In their most recent encounter in Berlin, Rodri’s Spain defeated Rice’s England 2-1 in the final.
The pair are considered the best holding midfielders in the Premier League, if not globally.
Rodri, a Spanish international, transferred to Manchester City in 2019 after his £62.6 million release clause was met, moving from Atletico Madrid.
Since joining City, Rodri has become a key player, netting 26 goals in 257 appearances across all competitions. He has won four Premier League titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup, and two League Cups.
At 28, he has also achieved success with Spain, including victories in the Nations League and the recent European Championship. His accomplishments have earned him a place among the Ballon d’Or nominees.
In their latest matchup in Berlin, Rodri’s Spain defeated Rice’s England 2-1 in the final.
Recently, with rumors circulating about a potential departure from City, Rodri has shared his admiration for other players in his position. He highlighted Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Jorginho, although he noted that Rice plays a different role than he does.
Rodri also mentioned past players he admires, including Sergio Busquets, Xabi Alonso, and Manchester United’s Casemiro.
In an interview with ESPN, Rodri commented: “If you ask me for names, I might not be fair because I’ll leave out some deserving ones. Right now, I really like Declan, although his role is different from mine. I also admire Jorginho, especially when he was in top form. Looking back, I have always respected Busquets, Casemiro, and Xabi Alonso for their game management.”
