Nedum Onuoha has lavished praise on to Manchester City lynchpin Rodri ahead of his side’s upcoming friendly against Atletico Madrid.
Speaking on City’s official YouTube channel, the well-liked pundit was quizzed about the £62.8 million (Independent) man and his impact on his team.
All Nedum Onouha could do is laud Rodri, who is widely hailed as one of the best all-round midfielders in world football.
Nedum Onuoha raves about Manchester City hero Rodri
Branded as ‘phenomenal’ by Danny Murphy, the Spanish international had a season to remember to say the least.
Aside from being a consistently splendid performer for the Sky Blues, the decorated midfielder also produced iconic moments, such as his belter against Bayern Munich and most notably, his emphatic winner in the Champions League final.
Now, Nedum Onuoha has reserved special praise for Rodri, who continues to showcase why many regard him as the best No.6 in the world, bar none.
“Absolutely incredible and he seems so humble with it as well. And the fact that he was available in every game as well last year, he’s formed a pillar of what that team is. Given the fact that in that first season, a few people were skeptical about him as a signing”, he said.
Nedum Onuoha also went on to liken Rodri to Fernandinho, saying, “But now, he’s just as important in this period as Fernandinho was in the last. And he’s got that record of ‘who is the player to score the winning goal for Man City in the Champions League final?’ Well, it’s that guy, it’s Rodri. For me, he does it all.”
“He can defensively be very good but he wants to get on the ball, can get in more advanced areas and as we look back last season, he’s a [No.] six who’s scored some massive goals.”
Nedum Onouha continued to laud Rodri for being so well-rounded in his role, saying, “From that distance [outside the box], he’s so good. Go back a few months now, that left footer against Bayern Munich kind of set the tone for what that game would be in the quarter-final of the Champions league. Fair play to him, he gets better and better, and he goes about his business quietly and makes it [look] like it’s routine.”
At the end of the day, all the plaudits that come the Manchester City hero’s way are merited.
