Gary Neville has named Manchester City’s most important player and it isn’t Kevin De Bruyne.
Years of intelligent recruitment and a fantastic academy has left Manchester City with one of the best squads ever assembled in football.
Pep Guardiola’s team claimed the treble last season, becoming just the second English team to do so, and could even do it again this year.
It’ll be a difficult task, given Liverpool currently lead the way in the Premier League and Arsenal are right up there, too.
But City have one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals and are into the final eight of the FA Cup.
To be so successful you need a collection of excellent players but Gary Neville has picked out the most important.
Gary Neville names Man City’s most important player
Speaking on Sky Sports commentary ahead of the Manchester derby kicking-off, Neville said: “Rodri is arguably Man City’s most important player.
“Even with Haaland. We know City’s record without him and it’s poor.”
Crucial Rodri
Neville is right, Rodri is City’s most important player and this season alone proves it.
City were without Kevin De Bruyne for the first half of the campaign yet didn’t struggle to rack up the wins without him.
Even when Erling Haaland was missing for 12 games, City still didn’t suffer a loss of form.
But every game City have played without Rodri this season – Wolves, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Newcastle in the League Cup – has been lost.
He’s pivotal to how City play, which in turn gives the Blues a weakness that must be addressed.
Rodri has played a lot of football over the last two years and eventually, he will suffer some injuries.
City have no one in the squad who can adequately replace him and will suffer when the Spaniard is unavailable.
Signing a player capable of filling his shoes must be the priority for the summer transfer window.
