Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been speaking to the media today ahead of the club’s first Champions League game on Wednesday night.
The Spaniard is expected to start for City against Inter at the Etihad Stadium, after finally making his return to action at the weekend in the Premier League.
Rodri came on at half-time in City’s 2-1 win over Brentford.
The 28-year-old arrived back late following a successful summer with Spain at Euro 2024, and fans can’t wait to see him back in the team regularly and shining again.
Because they know that Rodri is potentially City’s most important player, and in the eyes of many, the best defensive midfielder in the world.
But that was not an opinion shared by Hakan Calhanoglu earlier this year. Today though, Rodri was finally asked about the Turkey international’s suggestion that he was a better player than him.
Humble Man City star Rodri declines war of words with Inter midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu after controverisal ranking comments
Earlier this year, Calhanoglu made some rather interesting comments about the pecking order of deep-lying midfielders in the game today.
He had been in brilliant form for Inter at the time, and in his eyes, he himself was the top dog in that position.
He said (as quoted by The Athletic): “Fifth: Enzo Fernandez. Fourth: Joshua Kimmich. Third: Toni Kroos. Second: Rodri. I’ll put myself first.”
Naturally, these comments caused a bit of a reaction on social media.
Many feel that Rodri is the best when it comes to deep lying midfielders, and this was also an opinion Micah Richards stated when he reacted to the comments by Calhanoglu at the Euros.
Today, ahead of City and Inter facing off in the Champions League on Wednesday, Rodri was asked about Calhanoglu’s rankings – and he gave a typically classy response.
He said with a little chuckle (via mancity.com): “What can I say? It’s his opinion, I respect it. I’m not here to judge who’s the best and who’s not the best. You guys are more professional to analyse that, or the fans.
“I just want to be the best version of myself. I think he’s a great player. I don’t want to say who’s better. I want to be the best, that’s why I perform. but I don’t want to do a ranking!”
Rodri is better
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Rodri was never going to start saying that he was a better player than Calhanoglu when presented with his comments.
That is just not his style, as City fans have come to learn over the years. Rodri is about as humble as they come, which was recently emphasised with his comments and not being on social media and life in general.
He does not concern himself too much with others and what they might be saying, which is very refreshing.
But there can surely be no arguments at this point about who is a better deep-lying playmaker. Rodri has been absolutely intergral for both club and country for around three years now.
Calhanoglu has been superb since dropping deeper in midfielder. But he cannot hold a candle to the game of Rodri, which is totally complete.
