Rafael Benitez has suggested that one Manchester City player is virtually perfect.
Ahead of the Euro 2024 final between Spain and England, Benitez was full of praise for Phil Foden, who he described as a “great talent.”
The former Liverpool boss would be hoping that Luis de la Fuente’s side are their best on Sunday night.
For Spain to play at their absolute best against a team of England’s calibre, Rodri will have to pull the strings from the base of midfield.
The 28-year-old’s partnership with Fabian Ruiz in the middle of the park has been a treat to watch — with even France’s rock-solid midfield of Aurelien Tchouameni, Adrien Rabiot and N’Golo Kante struggling to tame the pair in the semi-final of the European Championship.
- READ MORE: Who is Rodri? Get to know Man City’s modest midfield maestro who won a Champions League final
Rafael Benitez makes fresh claim about Rodri ahead of Euro 2024 final between Spain and England
Paul Merson also stated that Declan Rice has a massive task on his hands in curbing Rodri’s influence in the European Championship final.
Rice himself shared how much he respects the Manchester City midfielder as a player, who he described as a “top player.”
Ahead of the much-awaited affair, Rafael Benitez hinted that Rodri has no weaknesses in his game and represents Spain as a side.
The ex-Valencia manager was quoted by AS saying: “He is a player with conditions: physique, vision, tranquility, personality and adapts to what we talk about, balance. Spain is balance. Rodri is the reference in all that.”
Rodri is the perfect holding midfielder
Rafael Benitez makes a fair suggestion as at this point in his career, Rodri seems like the perfect defensive midfielder.
From the way Manchester City’s number 16 can control games for fun, to how he tends to be perfectly positioned at all times, his eye for a pass as well as how much of a leader he is — the Spanish international is well and truly a master of his craft and an example for up and coming holding midfielders.
Rodri’s understated demeanour and selfless outlook towards fighting for the team’s success rather than his own individual glory — as demonstrated by his admission that winning the Ballon d’Or is not a priority of his.
The midfield maestro’s quality and temperament are reasons why he is often likened to Sergio Busquets — who is widely viewed as one of the greatest conductors in the history of football.
