Rio Ferdinand has claimed that Rodri could go down as the greatest defensive midfielder the Premier League has ever seen.
In September, Jamie O’Hara went as far as to say that the Spanish international is a superior player to N’Golo Kante, who is considered one of the greatest holding midfielders of all time.
O’Hara had also claimed that Rodri could get into an all-time Premier League XI.
Rio Ferdinand says Rodri could go down as the greatest defensive midfielder in Premier League history
Such is the impact the £62.8 million (BBC Sport) man has had during his five-year spell at City that even John Obi Mikel stated that he has surpassed the likes of Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane.
However, many might disagree with the former Chelsea midfielder, considering the aforementioned greats are not just legendary players but iconic captains as well.
While Rio Ferdinand does not think Rodri is already the greatest number six in the Premier League era, he believes he could go down as the undisputed best.
“I think he’s definitely in the conversation. He could be. His importance to this Man City team is the definitive factor. The best ones I played with were [Michael] Carrick and Owen Hargreaves.”
“But I think sheer importance to his team, when he’s out of the team, he gets beat”, he said on TNT Sports.
Rodri could perhaps cement the status of the greatest if Manchester City even win the double
While City are the favourites in the Premier League, the Champions League and the FA Cup, it would be a herculean task for them to win back-to-back trebles; a feat no team has achieved in history but even if they win the double, perhaps even Rio Ferdinand may concede that Rodri is already the best holding midfielder in Premier League history.
The size of such achievements are simply incredible and considering the role that the 27-year-old has already played for this Sky Blues side over the years and could until the end of the campaign, his status as the league’s best might be set in stone.
However, when it comes to such discussions, Rodri’s place, as is with every active player will also be hotly contested in comparison to the retired greats of the game by fans and pundits alike.
