One Manchester City player reportedly left all of his international teammates stunned earlier this year.
Last night at Euro 2024, Spain took on Georgia in their last-16 match in Cologne.
After going a goal behind, the Spaniards turned things around and eventually ran out 4-1 winners.
It was City maestro Rodri who got Spain back on level terms with a great finish from the edge of the box, and the praise for him today has been plentiful.
Rodri was making his 53rd appearance for his country, and it is clear how important he is for Luis de la Fuente’s side, just as he is for Pep Guardiola and Manchester City.
Rodri has been the subject of a feature today – and it has shared how he left his Spain teammates amazed earlier this year.
Rodri left Spain teammate ‘stunned’ with his dedication after grandfather’s passing
The praise for Rodri today after last night’s game has been in full swing on social media.
The 28-year-old completely dominated the game against Georgia, and after the match, he was described as a ‘computer’ by de la Fuente, for the way he ‘makes everyone else play’.
Rodri only made his debut for Spain in 2018.
Initially, he was not a regular starter. Sergio Busquets still had a lot to offer back then, meaning Rodri had to bide his time a little.
Eventually, he started to feature more and de la Fuente gave him a starring role when he took over from Luis Enrique after the 2022 World Cup.
Rodri is finally now starting to get the appreciation he truly deserves, but his brilliance is not lost on his teammates. And it isn’t just about how good a footballer he is.
Back in March, Rodri sadly lost his grandfather while on international duty. This happened just a day before Spain played against Brazil, and the midfielder was released to go and be with his family. But, after mourning, Rodri still played against Brazil as it was what his grandfather would have wanted.
He was named captain, and he scored two goals in a 3-3 draw.
The Athletic reported that every member of the squad left that Spain camp ‘stunned’ by the level of dedication Rodri showed. The support he received apparently strengthened the harmony in the squad.
Rodri has the mental strength to boot
- READ MORE: Who is Rodri? Get to know Man City’s modest midfield maestro who won a Champions League final
We all know how good a player Rodri is, but he also clearly has an amazing mentality.
What he went through earlier this year cannot have been easy. He could have obviously been forgiven for taking some time away from the game.
But Rodri still played, and that must have been very inspiring for his teammates to see.
Especially considering how well he actually played against Brazil.
Manchester City are simply incredibly lucky to have a player like this and it would be great to see the £63 million star become captain of the club someday, with Kyle Walker and Kevin De Bruyne obviously not having too much longer left at the Etihad Stadium.
