Rodri reveals the Barcelona player who has surprised him the most

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Barca News Network

·15 September 2026

Rodri reveals the Barcelona player who has surprised him the most

The midfielder Rodri Hernandez has been the most high-profile addition to the FC Barcelona team this summer. He joined the Catalan club after spending seven years at Manchester City, and after rejecting a move to Real Madrid.

Although he knew several members of the Blaugrana team even before he joined the club, because he shares the Spanish national team dressing room with them, there are still other players whom he is only now getting to know. One such player is the forward Raphinha, who is playing a new role in Hansi Flick’s plans this season, as a center-forward.

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The Brazilian has apparently already impressed the newly arrived midfielder in these few weeks. This was clear as Rodri appeared in an interview with Mundo Deportivo, and highlighted Raphinha as one of the players who has surprised him the most:

“Raphinha has surprised me tremendously. It’s not that he surprised me because I didn’t know what kind of player he was, but he’s an incredible player, especially given the form he’s in. I also laugh because he’s my age and seems to have such incredible physical ability… It’s true that we have different profiles, obviously, but anyone would think he was 24 or 25. But no, he’s 30 like me, and he has this unbelievable physical capacity.”

One player with whom the midfielder has played previously is Julian Alvarez, who was very closely linked with Barcelona in the last summer transfer window, and still remains on the club’s agenda. Rodri was clear that he is an exceptional player:

“I think he’s a fantastic player. Obviously, yes, I would sign Julián. I was lucky enough to spend a couple of years with him, and I think he’s an incredible player.”

The Spaniard further opened up on what makes the Argentine such a special player:

“He’s incredible. I think he’s incredible. Besides, he almost played more as a No. 10 than a No. 9, even though he came through as a No. 9. But he has also adapted to a position where he can play as an attacking midfielder, a playmaker, and he even played some matches as an interior midfielder. But I think he’s a spectacular player.”

There is no doubt that signing Julian Alvarez would have made the last summer transfer window one of the very best in the Blaugrana club’s history. However, Gabriel Jesus, who was signed in the last stages of the window, can prove to be a valuable addition, as Raphinha continues to amaze with his abilities playing as a center-forward for Barcelona.