Pep’s just the best... this city’s blue now!
NEW £62m MAN RODRI SAYS:
RODRI claimed Manchester City have changed the landscape of English football as the club’s new record signing outlined his reasons for teaming up with Pep Guardiola.
The £62.8million midfielder has joined from Atletico Madrid and believes the Premier League champions have now usurped Manchester United as the region’s top side
Rodri was flanked by his girlfriend, mum, dad and two brothers on his first day in Manchester, claiming he did not entertain any offers from other clubs, including Bayern Munich.
‘The last five or six years have changed the story of the football here,’ Rodri said. ‘ Not only Manchester but the whole of England. Manchester is becoming more blue.
‘I’ve been following this team for four or five years. Not just because of the good players but because of the way they play. I don’t watch too much football, but I’ve been watching City.
‘There wasn’t another option. This was the place I wanted to be. Once I knew the club was interested in me, there was no doubt. It was very clear for me to decide to come here.
‘Since Pep’s arrived it has been a radical change in the way they’ve played and they are one of the most feared in Europe.
‘It’s not just pretty football. City are in the top two or three teams in the world. They even make good teams change their style.’
The 23-year- old, who studied business studies and economics at Castellon University while at Villarreal, sought advice from Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets and Bayern’s Thiago Alcantara about Guardiola. Rodri has been talked up as Spain’s natural successor to Busquets and added: ‘Sergio has been the greatest defensive midfielder of the last 10 years.
‘I watched him when I was little. I’m close (in style) to him but have other skills. I’ve learned about him, from Fernandinho — these guys in my position. Sergio told me about Pep, he likes improving you. He doesn’t stop. I’m going to grow under Pep.
‘I’m not coming here because the manager’s Spanish. He’s the greatest coach in the world.’
Rodri will start pre- season training on Monday and took a tour of the club campus yesterday. ‘The city is tiny, it’s good for me,’ he said. ‘I’ve never lived in big cities. I don’t want massive cities. I’m joining a great league that will make me grow.’