Rodri reveals who he wants to win the Ballon d’Or one day and who his favorite midfielder is

The Spanish international Manchester City Rodri Hernandezwho finished in fifth place in the last edition of golden ball, admitted that he would like a defensive midfielder like him to one day win that award as it would send an important message to youngsters who want to play in that position. In an interview published this Saturday in ‘France Football’, the former Atlético de Madrid player also praised his coach at that club in 2018-19, Diego Pablo Simeone, and his current coach, Pep Guardiola.

“I know that legendary midfielders have never achieved it (the Ballon d’Or), but I want for a defensive midfielder like me to win it, that means a lot, both for the winner and for to young people who want to play in that position so they know who has the right to be recognized, even if they don’t score goals or aren’t particularly attractive in their game,” he said.

Despite his lofty ambition to win the division, Rodri, 27, assured that he will “relish” fifth place in the rankings in 2023. From Simeone, who he has been with for just one season, he insists he has learned “different dimension of the game”, because he started “to be competitive in duels, to be strong when the team is struggling.”

With Guardiola, who signed him in 2019 for 70 million euros, Rodri has improved “both tactically and mentally.” “He (Guardiola) knows everything about that position (defensive midfielder),” said the Spanish international. “Where I play, your teammates expect you to be their rescue buoy, with or without the ball, especially if the game is tense. Your teammates have to feel in your game: ‘let’s not panic, get back we control the game. ‘match,'” he added.

The City midfielder recalled his historic goal that knocked out Inter Milan on June 10, 2023 and gave the English their first Champions League. “I remember the forest of legs that were in a small space and the right one that came out perfectly and went in. I did the fastest sprint of my life to celebrate near the corner post and I told my teammates in moment I remember this: ‘Guys, There are 20 minutes left, 20 minutes!'” he said.

Rodri describes himself as more physical and reach than Busquets

Rodri, Spanish international on 48 occasions, judged that the best defensive midfielder in history was his former teammate at La Roja, Sergio Busquets (former Barça, now Inter Miami), whose “amazing regularity” and his first touch of the ball. “Sergio is incredible in small spaces, nobody has had a first touch on the ball like him, because of his quality on the feet, how he moves his body and the speed of his brain to do well that control when faced with pressure from two. or three rivals,” he hinted. The City midfielder made it clear that he distinguishes himself from Busquets by having “more physical impact and more projection in the last 30 metres”.