Rodri

Rodrigo Hernández Cascante (born 22 June 1996), known as Rodri or Rodrigo, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for club Manchester City and the Spain national team.

Rodrigo Hernández Cascante was born on 22 June 1996 in Madrid.

He joined Atlético Madrid's youth setup in 2007 aged 11, from CF Rayo Majadahonda.

Released in 2013 due to a "lack of physical strength", he subsequently signed with Villarreal.

On 7 February 2015, while still a junior, Rodri made his senior debut for the reserves, coming on as a late substitute in a 3–1 away win against RCD Espanyol B in the Segunda División B.

He was handed his first start 15 days later, in a 2–0 victory at Real Zaragoza B.

Rodri made his first-team debut on 17 December 2015, starting in a 2–0 home win against SD Huesca for that season's Copa del Rey.

His first La Liga appearance was on 17 April 2016, when he came on as a second-half substitute for Denis Suárez in a 2–1 away loss to Rayo Vallecano.

On 4 December 2017, having already established himself as a regular, Rodri renewed his contract until 2022.

He made his debut for the senior national team in 2018 and represented his country at UEFA Euro 2020 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

In 2023, he won the UEFA Nations League, being named the best player of the finals tournament.

He scored his first goal in the Spanish top level on 18 February 2018, the opener in a 1–1 away draw against RCD Espanyol.

On 24 May 2018, Rodri returned to Atlético Madrid after the club reached an agreement with Villarreal for his transfer.

He signed a five-year contract with the club, for a fee in the region of €20 million, plus €5 million in variables.

He made his debut on 15 August in the 2018 UEFA Super Cup in Tallinn, playing the first 71 minutes of a 4–2 extra-time win over city rivals Real Madrid.

After playing for Spain at under-16, under-19 and under-21 levels, Rodri was first selected by the full side on 16 March 2018 for two friendlies with Germany and Argentina.

He made his debut five days later, replacing Thiago Alcântara late in the 1–1 draw against Germany in Düsseldorf.

After stints with Villarreal and Atlético Madrid in La Liga, Rodri joined Premier League club Manchester City in 2019.

On 3 July 2019, Manchester City met the terms of Rodri's £62.6 million release clause, enabling him to buy out the remainder of his contract with Atlético and leave the club.

The transfer was a new record fee paid by Manchester City.

He signed a five-year contract.

Rodri made his debut in the 2019 FA Community Shield on 4 August at Wembley Stadium, playing the full 90 minutes as City won on penalties against Liverpool after a 1–1 draw.

He made his Premier League debut against West Ham United six days later in a 5–0 away win, and on 14 September he scored his first goal in a 3–2 away defeat against Norwich City.

It was announced in October 2019 that Rodri would be out for a month due to a hamstring injury.

He helped the team win three consecutive league titles in the 2020–21, 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons, the latter of these part of a campaign that saw the club claim a historic continental treble.

This treble included City's first UEFA Champions League title, with Rodri scoring the only goal in the final, and being named the tournament's Player of the Season.

Rodri is a Spain international and former youth international.

On 1 March 2020, City won the EFL Cup at Wembley Stadium for the third consecutive time, beating Aston Villa 2–1 in the final.

Rodri headed in City's second goal from a corner, which ultimately turned out to be the winner.

On 13 February 2021, Rodri scored City's first goal from a penalty in a 3–0 home win over Tottenham Hotspur.

Over the course of the 2021–22 domestic campaign, Rodri had the highest pass completion rate of any midfielder in the Premier League, with 91.8% successful passes per 90 mins, and had proved to be integral to City's title win.

On 12 July 2022, Rodri agreed to extend his contract with Manchester City until 2027.

On 11 April 2023, he scored his first UEFA Champions League goal in a 3–0 home win over Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals first leg.

On 10 June, he scored the only goal in the Champions League final against Inter Milan, securing City's win for their first title in the competition, and completing the continental treble.

Rodri was named man of the match, and was selected as the tournament's Player of the Season.

On 23 September 2023, he was sent off in a Premier League match against Nottingham Forest for lashing out at Morgan Gibbs-White following a tussle, which sparked a melee.

This was Rodri's first red card in the Premier League.

City went on to lose each of the three subsequent games for which he was suspended.

Rodri was included in Luis Enrique's 24-man squad for UEFA Euro 2020 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Rodri is a physically strong and tall player.