When you load up the leaderboard of the top-earning players in fantasy football this season, you have to get your scrolling finger at the ready to locate Rodri.
You’ll find him low down on the first page, in amongst the likes of Carlton Morris and Jean-Philippe Mateta.
No disrespect to those two individuals, but that’s hardly salubrious company for a player considered by many to be the premier defensive midfielder on the planet.
So while his FPL credentials may be lacking, there’s no doubting the respect that Rodri has in the game – and the key role he plays in Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side.
It’s a level of respect that could see him yet land a shock win in the PFA Player of the Year Award.
Going for Gold
Even though others in this City team are more likely to capture the headlines, none have been as important to the club’s Premier League title bid than Rodri.
The latest odds on the Premier League winner have City down as a 6/10 favourite, with Arsenal – at the time of writing – their sole opposition at 17/10. Liverpool’s shock defeat at Everton condemning them to also-ran status at 25/1.
MOOD: pic.twitter.com/nNq9sGIgNs
— Everton (@Everton) April 24, 2024
The irony of it all is that defensive midfielders are generally overlooked when it comes to the end-of-season awards – and in fantasy football play in general.
However, the 2023/24 season has broken the mould, somewhat, with three defence-minded midfielders all making it onto the list of top-scoring FPL players this term: Declan Rice, Douglas Luiz and Rodri. Their salaries (at the time of writing)? £5.5 million, £5.4 million and £5.6 million respectively.
Rodri in particular has begun to defy description. Yes, he’s typically the last line of defence in Pep’s adventurous system, but the Spaniard has still chipped in with 14 Premier League goal involvements this term – seven scored, seven assisted.
His point-scoring prowess is somewhat hampered by his disciplinary record – eight yellows and a red enough to have FPL managers tearing their hair out, but Rodri has delivered tremendous upside this season… and at a bargain price, too.
Respect of His Peers
We’re at that point of the campaign when the best-performing individuals start to be recognised.
And Rodri surely has to be in contention for major honours. A defensive shield with 14 goal involvements is as rare as it gets, which helps to explain the high esteem in which he is held by his head coach at Manchester City and amongst his teammates too.
🚨 Rodri is now unbeaten in his last 6️⃣8️⃣ matches in all competitions, the most ever for a player in Premier League history!
WWWDDWWWWWWWWWDWWWWDWWWDWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWDDWDWWWWWWWWWWDWWWWDWDWWDDW pic.twitter.com/bC9cJC6tHW
— City Chief (@City_Chief) April 20, 2024
In February of this year, Pep described Rodri as ‘by far’ the best midfielder in the world, which is praise indeed from a man who has worked with some of the finest in the business.
But the Spaniard enjoys it that his fellow national goes under the radar. “I would say if the holding midfielder doesn’t get the same appreciation as the strikers or the number ten then that is good,” Pep said. “When a holding midfielder has a lot of appreciation, it is not good.”
Combining exceptional defensive work with vital attacking output, Rodri is the ultimate modern midfielder. Will his excellence be reflected at the PFA Awards and other ceremonies like it?
