Manchester City great Rodri is back in England and was immediately hit with questions about his former club
Rodri and the Manchester City badge
Man City icon Rodri is back in England tonight as Spain face the Three Lions at Wembley Stadium(Image: Getty Images)
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In the final year of his legendary Manchester City career, Rodri was under the microscope. On international duty, he gave uncommitted answers to questions about his future. This led to some sections of the fanbase feeling let down by the midfielder.
Quite rightly, many felt that City and Pep Guardiola had given Rodri the foundations to win countless individual honours on both the domestic and world stage. In return, some expected more loyalty. While they may have felt let down then, they won't now.
The Spain captain faced the media in England on Friday night, just hours after the world discovered City had been found guilty of 114 of 115 financial charges put forward by the Premier League in 2023. City are expected to appeal the decision. Rodri could have distanced himself, he didn't.
"I believe in the justice system and I believe in the innocence of the club," he defiantly told the media. "They always tell us the confidence they have on the innocence. When you look into someone's eyes and [they are] talking that way... And we had the example in 2020 and the process was the same, and in the end, nothing happened.
"We were very calm in this way. You never saw the team nervous about these kinds of things. Nowadays, I'm not going to say it's going to stay normal, but many teams - or some teams - go through these kind of situations and it's part of football today. And everyone has to follow the rules, and for me, that's great. I always praise the confidence that they never did something wrong, and we believe in that.
"The moment they prove wrong, we will believe the club. I've been there and I know how they work and how they co-operate, so that's what I can tell you." It was a gutsy statement from the midfielder who could have easily ducked the question. Instead, he showed his true colours and loyalty to City. That will be appreciated by the blue half of Manchester.
Rodri speaks to the media at a press conference
Rodri spoke to the media upon discovering Manchester City's charges verdict
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Rodri plays in England for the first time tonight, since his summer departure to Barcelona. It feels like another lifetime since the 30-year-old was the epicentre of the transfer window. Just days before Rodri left City, Enzo Maresca confirmed he was at the Etihad Campus and gave the departing midfielder a 'big hug'.
Of course, Maresca wanted to keep the midfielder, but holding a player against their will, especially when a deal can be done, is not City's style. Having spent the summer chasing the star midfielder, Hansi Flick could not hide his delight at finally snagging Rodri for £65m. "He’s a fantastic player who brings something special to every team, and for me it’s brilliant to have him here," Flick told the club's media.
"I think he might be the best No.6. He can control the game, but he also helps out in defence. He can win aerial duels, which is very important for us, and of course he raises the standard of every player."
During his time in Manchester, Rodri was undoubtedly a leader in the City dressing room. He was not without his fair share of controversies, though. He always spoke his mind, as proven on Friday night. And it was his words that landed him in hot water just a month after his Camp Nou arrival.
At the beginning September, Rodri was caught on camera during a match, insisting that Valencia were 'very weak', as Barcelona romped to a 5-0 victory. The backlash was swift, with Spanish pundits claiming the midfielder was 'disrespectful'.
Rodri on the ball for Barcelona against Valencia
Rodri moved to Barcelona in the summer transfer window
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After his side beat Feyenoord in the Champions League the following week, Rodri issued an apology. "I apologised to my friend and colleague Jose Gaya [Spain defender and Valencia captain] and to the entire squad as well," the midfielder said. "I also want to make it clear that it was simply an expression of surprise - anyone watching the video can see that.
"At no point did I intend to mock anyone or take a difficult moment for a team out of context. Quite the opposite - we all want Valencia to return to where it belongs in the league, it is one of the best clubs in the competition. I simply wanted to say that.
"I would also add that it was a private conversation; I think we should all learn a bit more from this, as things really do get taken out of context sometimes. But at no point did I mean any disrespect. My apologies to Valencia."
Such is the esteem that Rodri is held in, in his homeland, the apology appeared to smooth things over. Heading into the international break and returning to Wembley, a second home for many City players of the past decade, questions comparing his time with the Blues to Barca were always going to arise.
Once more, Rodri did not play it safe with his response, nor did he shy away from a wobble he had after joining his new team. "They're nothing alike," the midfielder told Mundo Deportivo when asked to compare Flick and Guardiola.
"As soon as I arrived, I thought I was joining the Barca of rondos and possession, and then they put me through four days where I was thinking: 'What have I gotten myself into?' They started putting us through brutal physical sessions, gym work."
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"I think they wanted to make a point with me a little bit. It wasn't normal," he laughed.
"Pep was more about the philosophy that competition gives you, your rhythm. Hansi is different, those of us who arrived later, he pushed us really hard."
In December, Rodri welcomes his former teammates to Camp Nou for their Champions League league phase fixture. Who knows what state the club will be in by the time that match rolls around.
But one thing is guaranteed. Rodri will be shown plenty of love and appreciation from the pocket of City fans in Catalonia that night. That was likely before the developments of the last few days - now it is a certainty. Any questions about his loyalty to the club have been banished.