Rodri is purring again – Hart

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Manchester City F.C.

·19 Juli 2026

Rodri is purring again – Hart

Joe Hart has hailed the impact of Rodri as the City midfield ace aims to lift the World Cup with Spain this evening.

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Rodri: King of Spain

Rodri’s Spain face England’s nemesis Argentina tonight in the final with a 20:00 (UK) kick-off in MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Giants and New York Jets.

Spain are aiming to add the World Cup to the European Championship title they won in Germany in 2024.

As well as being captain, Rodri has been a key player for Luis de la Fuente’s much-praised team.

And former Blues keeper Hart has spoken of how impressed he’s been with the central star’s renaissance after coming into form here in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

“He’s worked really hard,” said Hart.

“He went through a devastating injury, just at the height of his powers, Ballon d’Or, doing everything he did at Manchester City.

“It was a very stop start season, understandably, I think the season before, he practically missed it, didn’t he?

“And then last season, he wasn’t purring. But it comes with time. He’s a brilliant, brilliant player.

“This Spanish team very much plays to his tune and he’s fantastic at it.

“He’s growing in confidence and fitness and prowess and this could be his day.”

Hart, who made 348 appearances over 10 seasons at the Etihad, is relishing this evening’s contest which he believes will pit two very different football nations together.

“I think obviously the Spanish style is, as you see it, they probably train the same every day, they work on the same sort of thing, same sort of tactics, same sort of movements, and they’re excellent at it, unbelievable at it in fact,” he added.

“And then you’ve just got the craziness of Argentina.

“We saw it the other night, it wasn’t perfect by no means but they’ll give absolutely everything they possibly can and sprinkle on top with the greatest player to ever play the game. It’s not a bad combination.

“England were giving them a right good ding dong, it was a dust up, it was aggressive, it was feisty, there was a lot of good football being played.

“Whereas Spain just pass you into submission and then beat you, Argentina are just looking for any angle.

“Of course, with the lesser nations, they can beat them with their quality.

“But I think when they think it’s more of a fair fight, in terms of ability, they just look for any little weakness.”