Ballon d’Or: How good is 2024 winner Rodri?

Rodri had big boots to fill when he joined City, with Fernandinho considered by some the best defensive midfielder to ever play in the Premier League.

However, Rodri has made the position his own and now has to be ranked along with the greats like Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira and Claude Makelele, but with more passing in the opposition half and less tackling and more Champions League final winning goals.

But it did not start off so smoothly, according to the Spaniard anyway. He said his first season at the club was a “disaster”.

“The holding midfielder is the guy on the pitch with more responsibilities,” he told BBC Sport in a recent interview – which you can watch on BBC iPlayer.

“You have to make sure team works and nobody is lazy or distracted. When the team doesn’t work it’s kind of your fault.

“You’re like a coach on the pitch. I’m not Pep [Guardiola] in the pitch in that sense because he overthinks the situation. I’m more simple.”

But Rodri admits it did not necessarily come naturally to him in 2019 when City signed him for a then club record £62.8m from Atletico Madrid.

“Maybe if the teams change and go from five to four, I have to be ‘instead of three at the back we have to do two and one here’. It’s something I’ve learned.

“In my first year I was a disaster. I was like, ‘I don’t even know what you’re talking to me about, just let me play football.'”

Mike Minay, BBC Radio Manchester’s City commentator, said: “When Rodri deputised on his own in that first season it was difficult to see how he was ever going to break out of Fernandinho’s shadow and emerge as the standout figure he is now.

“But then in his second season – a classic Pep Guardiola player symptom – he became pivotal. He made the role his own.

“He was able to break up attacks, utilise Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin de Bruyne in more advanced positions, and be the metronome in midfield – never passing for passing’s sake but there to help open up spaces and be available to support others.”

In Europe’s top five leagues from the start of the 2019-20 season, Rodri leads the way for passes, successful passes in the opposition half, successful passes ending in the final third and possession won. Not bad for a defensive midfielder.

On top of that Rodri scored one of the biggest goals in City’s history – the only one in the Champions League final win over Inter Milan to seal the 2022-23 Treble.

He scored a career-best nine goals last season, including two crucial late strikes in Premier League games and a goal in the title-clinching 3-1 win over West Ham.

“I think in his position, he’s up there with one of the best City have ever had, if not the best,” added Minay.

“He superseded Fernandinho and then some. Yaya Toure is another crucial figure in City’s modern history – but I think Rodri surpasses him too. A real pleasure to watch, a passionate player and ultimately, City’s best.”

Rodri is also a star for his country and was named the best player at Euro 2024 as he helped Spain to lift the trophy, beating England in the final – albeit he was replaced at half-time in that match through injury.