Few players improve a team so obviously as the Spanish midfielder — losing him could be one fine margin too far for Manchester City

Manchester City may have entered the season as the favorites to win a fifth successive Premier League title, but the calculus on their chances to extend their winning streak shifts considerably now that Rodri is expected to miss much of the campaign with an knee injury.

Spain had just come from behind to beat Georgia 4-1 to set up a mouthwatering quarter-final clash against Germany at Euro 2024 and in the bowels of the RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne, there was one player for whom Luis de la Fuente reserved special mention.