After 28 minutes, Rodrygo put Real Madrid 1-0 ahead and the pressure was on Manchester City. However, it was not a save-the-job victory for Xabi Alonso. City responded seven minutes later with an equaliser, then Erling Haaland settled the score with the match-winning 1-2 score just before half-time. When the referee blew for full time, Pep Guardiola walked over to praise one of the Real players. Not a coincidence.
In the summer, Rodrygo was linked with Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City, on Wednesday there was little doubt that the Brazilian is still one of Guardiola’s favourites.
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After the final whistle, Pep Guardiola walked up to Rodrygo to praise him to the skies.
The City coach shared what he had said.
“It’s not that Real Madrid’s players are just good at running. They also know how to dribble. Rodrygo… I told him how good he is. He’s on another level. I’m very happy to see him back from injury. He’s world-class,” Guardiola said, according to Marca.
Rodrygo is one of the players who has been given a completely different status at Xabi Alonso. Still without ninety minutes on the pitch in La Liga and a Pep Guardiola actively on to indirectly tell the 24-year-old with his world-class play he is a given in City’s starting eleven, rumours of a Premier League next for Rodrygo are not dampened.
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