<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n While at the Etihad he is seen as Pep Guardiola’s most important player, even before Erling Haaland, contributing towards their Premier League title success last term.<\/p>\n A devastating ACL injury suffered against Arsenal has cut short his campaign this season.<\/p>\n But he has vowed to come back stronger next season for club and country.<\/p>\n Incredibly, he holds the record for the longest unbeaten streak in European football history, playing 74 matches until City were beaten by Real Madrid.<\/p>\n Despite all his success, Rodri has remained grounded and enjoys a modest lifestyle, keeping his personal life, including his relationship with Laura Iglesias, away from the public eye.<\/p>\n The Spaniard signed for City for \u00a363million in 2019 and is now believed to earn a staggering \u00a3220,000-a-week, but he has opted not to adopt an extravagant lifestyle.<\/p>\n Instead, he has driven old cars and combined his football career with studying at university, all the while staying off social media.<\/p>\n Rodri has arguably been City’s most important player over the last few years.<\/p>\n And as a world class player in a world class team, it is unsurprising the midfielder is in the Ballon d’Or.<\/p>\n Rodri officially out for season after undergoing surgery in devastating blow for Man City star<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Spain team-mate Alvaro Morata<\/span> reckoned Rodri would have picked up the gong after winning the Treble in 2023 if he was more marketable.<\/p>\n But Rodri had said in the past he was not bothered about winning the award or the acclaim that comes with it.<\/p>\n He explained in an interview with The Guardian: “I don\u2019t play football for that.<\/p>\n “Maybe people would like me to be more marketable and he sometimes says: ‘Mate, you should\u2026’ but I understand football differently.<\/p>\n “I know how it works so I don\u2019t get frustrated if [I get overlooked for the award]. If one day someone wants to reward the work, that\u2019s welcome, but it doesn\u2019t bother me at all.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Rodri joined City from Atletico Madrid but began his career at Villarreal<\/span> where he spent time living in university halls while he was a student.<\/p>\n Shunning renting<\/span> a posh apartment, Rodri lived in a shared space at the Universidad de Castellon in eastern Spain.<\/p>\n He studied Business<\/span> Studies and Economics, and balanced a precarious football career with his degree, never missing a lecture.<\/p>\n His friend Valentin Henarejo recalled their time together, telling Marca: “People were shocked when they saw Rodri, who was playing in the top flight but still living at the university residence.<\/p>\n “After the first few days of getting to know him, there was normality.<\/p>\n “He shared a space with everyone, he liked being with his friends and sitting on the sofa with everyone.<\/p>\n “But, of course, at the start it was strange seeing him playing table tennis<\/span> or doing his washing.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Rodri and his partner Laura like to keep their personal life under wraps – with Laura’s Instagram<\/span> kept private.<\/p>\n Laura is a medical student and is believed to be training to become a surgeon, with the pair meeting at university.<\/p>\n Rodri revealed she was confused to see a pro footballer in uni studying, but Laura has now become his biggest supporter and often posts videos of her celebrating her boyfriend’s goals.<\/p>\n The four-time Premier League winner revealed he often watches<\/span> those videos back, saying: “When I get to score, I always have a video of Laura celebrating the goal at home and I always watch it in a locker room.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n<\/div> Rodri’s stellar performances have led to a big pay rise since his move to the Etihad.<\/p>\n But he has turned away from the lavish spending lifestyles favoured by many of his team-mates in favour of a more low-key way of life.<\/p>\n When he passed his driver’s test Rodri decided against purchasing a Ferrari<\/span> or Lamborghini<\/span>, and instead bought a second-hand Opel Corsa from an elderly lady.<\/p>\n His friend Valentin said: “One time he told me that some friends were ‘crazy’ for buying nice<\/span> cars, all that mattered was that it takes you from A to B and that’s all.”<\/p>\n Rodri has also stuck to a strict regime during his career with training taking precedence above everything else.<\/p>\n It has helped propel him to untouchable status for club and country, with many viewing him as the successor to Spain legend Sergio Busquets.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n MAN CITY ace Rodri has won the Ballon d\u2019Or after a remarkable year. The Spanish midfielder, 28, was crucial to Spain\u2019s win at the Euros in Germany, where he starred in the final against\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3573,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3569","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hot-news"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"Rodri](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/rodri-spain-celebrates-winning-game-914969909.jpg?strip=all&w=960\")
<\/p>\n<\/div>![\"He](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/rodrigo-hern-ndez-cascante-aka-856138991.jpg?strip=all&w=640\")
<\/p>\n<\/div>![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/8ec68946-61ba-479e-9d16-746febe3fcf6.jpg?strip=all&w=821\")
<\/p>\n<\/div>![\"Rodri](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/manchester-citys-spanish-midfielder-rodri-944680527.jpg?strip=all&w=960\")
<\/p>\n<\/div>Ballon bore<\/h2>\n
![\"Rodri](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/10-06-23-champions-league-824109346.jpg?strip=all&w=765\")
<\/p>\n<\/div>Living in uni halls<\/h2>\n
![\"Rodri](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/rodri-halls-915806385.jpg?strip=all&w=754\")
<\/p>\n<\/div>![\"He](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/rodri-halls-915806373.jpg?strip=all&w=690\")
<\/p>\n<\/div>Private life<\/h2>\n
![\"Laura](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/rodri-manchester-city-partner-laura-915820251.jpg?strip=all&w=960\")
<\/p>\n<\/div>Modest lifestyle<\/h2>\n
![\"She](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/rodrigo-hernandez-cascante-aka-rodri-915817258.jpg?strip=all&w=960\")
<\/p>\n<\/div>