An unexpected scorer, Rodri gave Manchester City their first Champions League last week in Istanbul against Inter Milan and discovered a new passion. That of lifting trophies. Whether collective or individual, Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante known as “Rodri” has seen them all pass in recent days. In addition to the Cityzens hat-trick (FA Cup, Premier League and Champions League), the Spanish midfielder (26) was voted man of the match in the C1 final before receiving the award for best league player of the season. Champions. And to top it off, he joined the Spanish team with whom he won a semi-final of the League of Nations against Italy (2-1) for which he still finished man of the match. .
What distinctions for the one who imposed himself quietly wherever he went, thus becoming the little protege of Pep Guardiola. The latter aligned him at kick-off in nearly 93% of his games played. Compatriots, the two men have a special relationship as the technician relies on his sentry. After a season at Atlético Madrid (2018/2019) Rodri was the main demand of the former Barcelona coach who brought him for 70 million. Something to surprise more than one. Today, surprise is no longer a term we use about him, except to see him progress and take on even more importance in the game, or to see him score and be decisive. . Decisive, he was for La Roja on the winning goal in the semi-final against Squadra Azzura on Joselu’s winning goal.
Humble and hardworking, Rodri is in line with the great Spanish circles of recent years. Discreet, he does not talk about him in the media and does not even have accounts on the various social networks. He hates extravagance and is totally dedicated to his football career.
The Madrilenian started at Rayo Majadahonda where he notably crossed paths with Lucas and Théo Hernandez, before joining the youth categories of Atlético Madrid. A very tall midfielder (1m91) but fast and with a very high volume of play, he left for the east of the country a few kilometers from Valencia, more precisely in Villarreal to start his professional career there in 2015. All in parallel of his studies, which were “the best years of his life” he confessed. One of his friends and roommate at the University of Castellon said that Rodri surprised everyone by living in a university residence while playing La Liga every weekend with the Yellow Submarine for three years. A professional footballer’s salary that has never changed the young man with his head on his shoulders and his hands behind the wheel of a used car.
His studies, he finished them during the break linked to Covid-19 when he had just joined Manchester City after a year with the Colchoneros. He obtained his diploma in “management”, proof that maturity is a concept that he knew how to assimilate.
Very quickly Rodri is compared to the legendary number 5 of FC Barcelona and La Roja. Because of his qualities in the game but also his physical profile. Often barred in the Spanish midfield by the presence of Busquets, as in Qatar during the last World Cup where he had to settle for a position as central defender, he finally has the keys to the red truck. The Spanish sentinel is him, which is likely to be the case in the long term. Accompanied by Pedri and Gavi, even if he is older, it is understood on the other side of the Pyrenees that this environment will take over from Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets. And it must be said that he looks great.
Brilliant against Italy on Thursday in the Nations League, Rodri will try to do it again in the final against Croatia this Sunday (8:45 p.m.) against another high-class trio made up of Modric, Brozovic and Kovacic. Winner of numerous trophies at the end of the season, he will be keen to win a first with his selection, which has not won anything for 11 years and Euro 2012.