Rodri has explained why is unique from Fernandinho.
New signing Rodri has divulged that he steals the ball in a way which Fernandinho does not. Since he was cautious about other clubs taking notes of him, he did not reveal the trickery which makes him unique from Fernandinho.
A year ago, the midfielder returned to Atletico Madrid, a club where he started his career as a boy. He was 12 months away at Villarreal, but Diego Simeone bought him for £20 million last summer. Pep Guardiola, who was having an eye on the Spaniard triggered his £62.5 million release clause to sign him this summer.
The Citizens might have won the domestic treble last season, but they are keen to reinforce by replacing the ageing Fernandinho. At 6ft 2in, Rodri is not particularly tall, but the 23-year-old former Atletico Madrid man is good in the air for a defensive midfield player.
He explained: “I like to look to players like me and I always consider he [Fernandinho] has been in the top five or six midfielders. You don’t stay six years at Manchester City, always playing if you’re not a good player. He gave the team what no-one gave – the strength, the power to steal balls – and that’s important.
“But I’m not used to tackles. I don’t know, it’s on your own the way you learn. I steal the ball in another way. I see other players always go down or tackle but I’m very big. If I go to ground, I waste a lot of time before I can go again so I have another way to steal balls.”
Rodri is aware of the Premier League physicality, which is becoming a huge factor in modern football.
“Football is changing. It’s getting more physical, of course in the Premier League. It’s good for me to have that physique in the position I play.
“You don’t win only playing good [sic], you need more things and that’s why teams are changing their philosophy. I noticed years ago that I had to become both a defensive and attacking player if I wanted to be good enough to be in Manchester.” he added.
Here’s how Twitter has reacted..
🗣| Rodri on Fernandinho:
“I like to look to players like me and I always consider he has been in the top five or six midfielders.
“You don’t stay for six years at Manchester City, always playing, if you’re not a good player. He gave the team what no one gave..” pic.twitter.com/IE5EJIE3KM
— City Chief (@City_Chief) July 23, 2019
Rodri:
“…and that’s important.
But I’m not used to tackles… I steal the ball in another way. I see other players always go down or tackle but I’m very big. If I go to ground, I waste a lot of time before I can go again so I have another way to steal balls.”
[@TeleFootball] pic.twitter.com/F9jB3Dne7A
— Superbia Proelia (@SuperbiaProeIia) July 22, 2019
🗣| Rodri:
“Football is changing now. It’s getting more physical and, of course, in the Premier League.
It’s good for me to have that physique in the position I play. The manager has lots of talented players but maybe one of the things the team can get is more physical.”
— City Chief (@City_Chief) July 23, 2019
Here’s how Twitter has reacted..
Rodri will be a fantastic signing for the Citizens, who are looking to lift the Champions League badly.
