Manchester City Midfielder Rodri Is Anything But Your Typical Modern Footballer

If there's a perception about what a footballer in the current era is like, Rodrigo Hernandez does not meet the criteria.

But in addition to sniffing out opposition attacks and building City ones, the Spain international has been studying for a degree in 'Business Administration and Management'.

The 24-year-old used the break from football in the first lockdown to get stuck into his studies and is close to finishing.

While his focus has been on his football career, education has always been key for Rodri.

When he was at Villarreal, playing in La Liga, he studied Business Studies and Economics at University.

And in order to ensure he never missed a lecture, Rodri stayed in student accomodation at the Universidad de Castellon.

Ahead of an interview with Marca prior to European Under-21 Championship in 2017, Rodri was spotted with a ball under one arm and a pile of books on the other.

"After the first few days of getting to know him, there was normality. He shared a space with everyone, he liked being with his friends and sitting on the sofa with everyone.

"But, of course, at the start it was strange seeing him playing table tennis or doing his washing."

He could have quite easily have had a plus flat of his own but you get the feeling that Rodri, City's club-record signing last year is not motivated by money or materials.

At one point, his vehicle of choice was a second-hand Vauxhall Corsa he bought off an elderly woman.

"His car, until recently, was a second hand Opel Corsa which he bought from a woman when he got his driving licence," Henarejo added.

They advised him to buy a better one for his safety and the journeys from Madrid to Castellon, but he didn't understand why he would spend so much on a car.

"In fact, one time he told me that some friends were 'crazy' for buying nice cars, all that mattered was that it takes you from A to B and that's all."

With his shirt neatly tucked in, Rodri adopts an old-school mentality on the pitch. Off the pitch is the same. He doesn't do social media of any form, nor does he have any tattoos.

His approach as a player and a person is simple but it's serving him well.

"When I finish my career as a player, I'd like to stay in contact with the sports world but if it doesn't happen, that's fine too."