Barcelona star Pedri has declared Manchester City midfielder Rodri as “the best in the world” ahead of Spain’s Euro 2024 quarter-final against Germany.
Luis de la Fuente’s side will face two world-class playmakers in Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz but Pedri claims that Rodri’s ability in the heart of the midfield means his team are more than up for the challenge:
“They are having a spectacular Euro Cup, especially [Jamal] Musiala. [Florian] Wirtz is also playing very well. We hope to neutralise them in the best possible way.”
“It is clear that our midfield is also very strong and I think we have the best in the world in that position, which is Rodri.”
Pedri is not the only one who holds Rodri in such high regard
Speaking about the City No. 16 back in March, Arsenal star Declan Rice made similar remarks, stating the Spaniard deserves to be ranked as the top holding midfielder in world football:
“You look at the best six’s in the world, obviously, Man City, Rodri, arguably the best, how he plays, how he’s always central, how he always connects between the backline and the forward players, how he’s always in the middle of the pitch, you’re always trying to learn and be that main player.”
City would not have won as many trophies without Rodri in recent years
It’s probably fair to say that the Spanish international took some time to settle into English football. He needed to acclimatise to the speed of the game in this country but, once he did, he never looked back.
Rodri provides a vital conduit between defence and attack, progressing the ball up the pitch with his passing or carrying possession himself into the opposition half.
As we saw in last year’s Champions League final too, he can also produce in the final third if required. Five years after arriving from Atletico Madrid for £62m, it is safe to say that it was money well spent.
