'Next Guardiola' joins Pep at City

The Premier League will get to see if Rodri is cut from the same cloth as Pep Guardiola next season - after the defensive midfielder completed his £62.5m transfer to Manchester City. 

The 23-year-old joins from Atletico Madrid on a 5-year deal and follows Angelino to become the Citizens' second signing of the summer.

Compared by many in La Liga to his new boss Guardiola, Rodri is seen as the model for a modern defensive midfielder: excellent technically and with a rare ability to read the game. 

After finalising the move, Rodri spoke of his admiration for his new club. 

“What City have achieved in the last two years has been amazing and I’m looking forward to being part of such a talented squad,” he said.

“It’s not just the titles they have won, but the way they have managed it, playing attacking football at all times.

“It’s a style that excites me, as do the Club’s ambitions.

“I can’t wait to start working with Pep Guardiola and my new team-mates and hopefully we can achieve great things together.”

So, what can City fans expect from their new addition? Here are three things you need to know about the Spanish playmaker: 

1. He's still playing catch up with Busquets! In terms of accurate short passes played last season in La Liga, Rodri converted an impressive 1,640, the ninth highest in the division. However, Barcelona pass master Sergio Busquets managed 1,997 (although Real Betis' Aissa Mandi topped the statistic with 2,236). 

2. Atletico released him as a youngster for lacking physicality. In 2007, Rodri left Rayo Majadahonda to develop with Los Rojiblancos academy. However, after six years of going through the ranks, Rodri was deemed too lightweight and allowed to leave on a free transfer. He subsequently joined Villareal, where he honed his game and showed Atleti the error of their ways. 

3. He doesn't give the ball away. In addition to attracting more fouls than any Atletico player last season, Rodri was dispossessed less than once a game - a Guardiola-esque trait if ever there was one (credit www.whoscored.com)...

Visit Rodri's player profile to find out more...