Rodri, midfielder for Manchester City and the Spanish national team, wrote an open letter, published on The Players' Tribune, in which he spoke about his childhood, the start of his football career, and his greatest achievements.
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Rodri’s journey in football has been shaped by key influences, starting with his time under Diego Simeone at Atlético Madrid, and evolving under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
The midfielder reflects on how both coaches contributed to different aspects of his game, blending competitiveness with tactical intelligence to elevate him into one of the world’s top players.
At Atlético Madrid, Rodri had a pivotal year under Diego Simeone that significantly toughened his approach. Known for his aggressive, high-intensity style, Simeone transformed the young midfielder, who admits he was “soft” when he arrived from Villarreal. Under Simeone, he learned to embrace the physical and mental demands of top-tier football. “I learned what it means to be the ‘bad guy,’” Rodri recalls. He was taught to play with more aggression, to make life difficult for opponents throughout the full 90 minutes, and to embrace the mentality of being a disruptive force on the field. This competitiveness became a crucial building block in his career, especially as he transitioned to the next phase of his development.
Moving to Manchester City was a dream for Rodri, but it also marked the beginning of a new kind of footballing education. Pep Guardiola, renowned for his tactical acumen, pushed Rodri to continuously improve. “Sergio Busquets told me, ‘Pep? He’s going to make you a better player. But he will never stop pushing you,’” Rodri explains, highlighting how Guardiola’s relentless drive for perfection transformed his game. Under Pep, Rodri learned to see the game differently anticipating spaces, knowing when to press and when to hold back. Guardiola’s tactical genius, which Rodri likens to playing chess, required the midfielder to be constantly evolving.
What struck Rodri most about Guardiola is his ability to stay ahead of the curve. Guardiola’s philosophy of constant evolution meant that City never played the same way two seasons in a row. “You don’t win four Premier League titles in a row by standing still,” Rodri emphasizes. Guardiola demands reinvention, and his approach is about finding new solutions to stay ahead of the competition. This mindset rubbed off on Rodri, who credits Pep with adding the final mental piece to his game, allowing him to “see” and “feel” the game on a more profound level.
Joining a City team full of legends like Fernandinho, Sergio Agüero, and Kevin De Bruyne was both humbling and exhilarating for Rodri. He remembers being a 12-year-old boy watching Agüero train at Atlético, never imagining he would one day be sitting next to him in a locker room. This transition, from fan to teammate, is a testament to how far he had come in his career.
Rodri’s journey at City has also been marked by his personal life. Juggling his football career with his long-distance relationship with his wife, a doctor, became a regular part of his routine. The midfielder fondly recounts how he would jump on FaceTime with his wife after every game, win or lose. “Agüero and Otamendi always made fun of me,” he says, laughing about how they teased him for his post-match calls. Even after a tough loss, while the rest of the team was downcast and silent, Rodri would be chatting loudly on the bus, discussing the game and everyday life with his wife, much to the amusement of his teammates. “They’d try to take my phone away,” he remembers, as the team would jokingly beg him to hang up.
This blend of competitiveness, tactical intelligence, and personal grounding has shaped Rodri’s footballing identity. Whether learning to be ruthless on the field from Simeone, or mastering the mental chess of the game under Guardiola, Rodri’s development is a reflection of the unique blend of influences that have helped him become one of the best midfielders in the world today. His story is one of constant growth, humility, and a deep love for the game.
Updated: 02:50, 6 Sep 2024
