Rodri: "Winning the Ballon d'Or would be a dream come true"

While everything is going perfectly for Rodri at club level, with Manchester City, one of the most successful teams in Europe, the job is different with the national team, where Spain have been gradually rebuilding over the last few years.

One of 'La Roja's captains appeared at a press conference ahead of the trip to Georgia on Friday (18:00 GMT+2), where he discussed a number of topical issues, including the arrival of 16-year-old Lamine Yamal in the first-team squad.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he started (against Georgia). He's a kid with impressive projection and although he's only been in the professional world for two months, he's very good. He's more mature than a 16-year-old and his future looks bright," said the recent Champions League winner.

Included in the list of 30 nominees for the Ballon d'Or 2023, the 27-year-old midfielder spoke of his ambitions: "I'm proud to be on this list. Winning it would be a dream come true, but I know the players on it. It's been a very special and important season for me, and certain titles have allowed me to be on it. I have team-mates who deserve it too."

Finally, the subject that has been arousing the curiosity of football fans in recent weeks is the departure of numerous players from Europe to Saudi Arabia, a fact linked to the financial affluence of the Saudi countries, and which also worries Rodri: "It's difficult to make an analysis. European football has lost out with this decision, but it's a very personal one for each player. We Europeans don't really like it and we will have to control the players' exodus. It used to be more of an exodus of older players, but that's no longer the case. They will have to take steps to control the situation."

 

September 7, 2023