It now seems increasingly likely that Rodri will leave Manchester City this summer.
Although Barcelona’s initial offer for the Spanish midfielder was rejected, with City describing it as derisory, Barcelona are determined to press on and believe a compromise deal can be reached.
And, if he does leave, not only City but the Premier League will be poorer by his absence.
The trophies tell only part of the story. Since joining Manchester City from Atlético Madrid in 2019, Rodri became one of the most important players of the Pep Guardiola era.
He has won four Premier League titles and was a key part of the City side that finally conquered Europe in 2023.
That Champions League triumph was particularly significant because Rodri did not merely play in the final. He scored the winning goal against Inter Milan, giving Manchester City their first European Cup and completing the Treble.
It was the sort of moment that can define a player’s legacy.
Rodri has also won the European Championship with Spain and, in 2024, became the first Manchester City player to win the Ballon d’Or.
Arguably, though, it was his style of play that was important both to his and the team’s success.
He gave the defence protection, provided an option for his team-mates when they were under pressure and controlled the tempo of matches.
He was also capable of moving forward and contributing goals himself. His winning goal against Inter was perhaps the most famous example, but it was not an isolated contribution.
His importance became particularly obvious when he was absent. Manchester City’s performances could change dramatically without him, highlighting how much of the team’s control depended upon the Spanish midfielder.
The fact that City did not win the Premier League title in Pep’s last two seasons in charge can be partly attributed to the number of games Rodri missed across those two campaigns.
And the fact that he was named Player of the Tournament as Spain won the World Cup for a second time this summer, is a testament to his skill and ability.
In the end his stay in the Premier League lasted just seven seasons. But his legacy will last a lot longer than that.
