Manchester City’s Rodri has been told that he is no longer the best number six in the Premier League.
The Spanish midfielder has been the heartbeat of Pep Guardiola’s midfield for many years, and his development as a number six peaked last year, as Rodri was crowned the winner of the 2024 Ballon d’Or.
The 29-year-old only recently returned to Man City’s starting XI regularly, having suffered an ACL injury at the start of last season, and in his absence, other midfielders have developed in the Premier League.
Stewart Robson thinks Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch has now surpassed Rodri as the best number six in England, but also clarifies that it is a result of the Man City star not being at his best.
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Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch is currently better than Rodri
Rodri recently admitted that he is getting closer to his best level; however, the process is going to be a slow one, and he is currently focused on helping his team get three points whenever they play.
When asked if Gravenberch is a better number six than Rodri at present, Robson stated that the Liverpool star has surpassed the Spaniard with his recent displays, but that is a result of the City midfielder not being at his very best.
“He played excellently last season. He’s playing excellently now. He looks to be full of confidence,” Robson said about Gravenberch on ESPN FC.
“He’s a good athlete, so he can get around the pitch. He can go and cover fullbacks. He can get in between centre halves. He can break forward when he needs to, as he did against Everton. He’s a decent passer.
“So, at the moment, he probably is the best one because Rodri is not playing at his very best. Zubimendi is never going to be as good as Gravenberch because he can’t pass it forward.”
How Ryan Gravenberch compares to Rodri this season
Rodri is regarded highly by all his Man City teammates, and they know that when the Spaniard is back to 100%, he will reestablish himself as the best midfielder in the Premier League.
However, at present, there is a strong case to be made for Gravenberch, as the Dutch star has been exceptional for Liverpool throughout the opening phase of the campaign and has performed better than Rodri in several metrics.
| Rodri | Metric | Ryan Gravenberch |
| 4 | Games | 4 |
| 0 | Goals | 2 |
| 0 | Assists | 1 |
| 3 | Shots | 7 |
| 186 | Successful Passes | 223 |
| 2 | Chances Created | 6 |
| 3 | Succesful Dribbles | 6 |
| 22 | Duels Won | 21 |
| 2 | Interceptions | 3 |
| 20 | Recoveries | 21 |
| 4 | Dribbled Past | 3 |
The Dutch star is currently on course to be Liverpool’s Player of the Season, which would be a huge achievement if the midfielder could do it.
The 23-year-old may be the best midfielder in the Premier League at present, but it won’t be long before Rodri returns for his crown.
