Rio Ferdinand has acknowledged that as a defensive midfielder, Rodri has outperformed Michael Carrick, his Manchester United teammate.
Rio Ferdinand recently told JOE that Michael Carrick would be in the running with Rodri and Casemiro for the finest number six in the world if he were playing today.
Considered by many to be among the most undervalued players of his time, the Englishman is respected widely for his stellar career.
Rio Ferdinand, who trained and played with Michael Carrick for both Manchester United and the Three Lions, has acknowledged that Manchester City midfielder Rodri, is now better than him.
“He’s not [Roy] Keane and Rodri’s above him, I have to say. And [Michael] Carrick’s probably the best CDM [central defensive midfielder] I’ve played with. Him and Owen Hargreaves were ridiculous”, Ferdinand said on his show, ‘Vibe With Five’.
“But I think Roy Keane is another level up because of [being] even more of just a footballer and Rodri, what he’s doing right now, he’s the best CDM on the planet, no doubt.”
Carrick was an integral part of the Man United team that won three Premier League and one Champions League title for Sir Alex Ferguson.
He gave the United midfield calmness, stability and impressive passing range. It won’t be wrong to say that he was one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s best signings for the club.
Rodri has been crucial for Man City in his career at the Etihad, with the Spaniard rising to the biggest of occasions and being the difference maker when it matters him the most.
The importance of a player can be easily judged after watching his team play without him, and when Rodri doesn’t play, City look lost without him commanding their midfield.
