Gundogan: Rodri is irreplaceable | OneFootball

Ilkay Gundogan is relishing linking up with Rodri again, calling him ‘irreplaceable’ in this high-flying City team.

Rodri has been performing at outstanding levels in sky blue since striding through the doors of the CFA five years ago.

But 2023/24 was especially elite as he collected Premier League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup medals as well as earning Player of the Tournament in Spain’s triumphant EURO 2024 campaign.

Gundogan, who re-joined today subject to international clearance, is thrilled to be sharing a dressing room with the 28-year-old after the elegant German re-signed for Pep Guardiola’s men today.

Our returning former captain says the midfield powerhouse’s eminence on the pitch and personality off it are a potent combination that makes him one of the best players in the world right now.

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“On the highest level, I would say,” said Gundogan when asked if Rodri was operating on a very high level.

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“He doesn't get so much credit because he's playing a position that doesn't score, assists, or it's not so much on the scoresheet all the time.  But for me he's one of the best players right now in the world.

“Not just because he won so many trophies, especially recently, also, because he's so smart, he doesn't do any mistakes. He is always there.

“He's barely injured. He plays all the games and all the games on such a high level.

“And on top of that, he's a great guy. He's a very great, great guy. He's humble, he's down to earth. He's just an amazing person and that combination I think makes him irreplaceable.

“He's someone that if there's someone maybe in our team right now that is irreplaceable, for me it's definitely Rodri.

“He's such an important puzzle piece and he deserves to be named with the best players in the world. Definitely.”

Rodri was named in the 2023/24 PFA Premier League Team of the Year this week alongside Erling Haaland, Kyle Walker and Phil Foden.

Foden, of course, also collected the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award, after a campaign that was widely acknowledged as the finest season yet in the 24-year-old’s glittering career.

Gundogan is a massive admirer of the silky-smooth England star and says he’s a beacon of light for every player coming through the Academy.

And with Pep Guardiola polishing these diamonds, Gundogan thinks the future is bright indeed for those making the move from the youth set-up to the first-team.

“What kind of player we have also still in in our own team like Phil Foden who just won every possible individual trophy last year,” added Gundogan.

“It just shows you that there is no limit for our Academy players and there's a lot of talent and I think these talents, they can be very happy that we have someone like Pep in the first team, who can coach them, who can even teach them much more and give them so much.

“From what I've seen also in my time in the seven years that I was here, there's a lot of good people also working in the Academy.

“When I did my coaching badges, I was able to visit the Academy, to visit the teams and join in a few training sessions. You need the best people to get the best out of the players. And that's a fact also of our Academy.”