News of Pep Guardiola’s contract extension didn’t come as a surprise to Rodri. He says he always knew it was coming, regardless of what others were told at the time.
The Ballon d’Or winner reflected on the announcement in a chat with Cadena SER, crediting Guardiola’s influence on his development directly:
It is a joy that Pep has decided to continue.
He is the most influential coach in my career. I know him and when I signed for them they told me he would only be there for a few years, I already knew that wasn’t going to be the case.
Softfootball understands the two share a close working relationship built over several seasons.
He went further, drawing a comparison to another famously demanding manager:
Guardiola is similar to Simeone in how demanding they are and how much they love this sport.
Rodri also praised Real Madrid as football’s most successful club, though he made clear his focus remains entirely on City for now.
