The star of MANCHESTER CITY, Rodri, is not just a trophy winner. The 27-year-old Spanish player has excelled in both defensive and offensive aspects, continuing his outstanding career at Etihad.

Rodri signed a contract with Man City from Atletico Madrid for a record-breaking fee of £63 million.

In a video release, he expressed that this demanded patience, hard work, and determination to secure the Premier League title for his club. However, his diligence has paid off.

“I have succeeded. I just had to do my final project, a little thesis, covering all the subjects, a big thesis at the end of the degree,” he told mancity.com.

“It was a tough job, but in the end, everything is fantastic.

“You have time for everything. Of course, it’s a demanding profession because it requires not only playing, training, and competing but also rest and care for your body.

“Imagine coming home at three in the afternoon to have the whole evening free. You can do other things.

“Of course, you cannot keep up with the pace of other students, but with determination, you can do it.”

But unlike his colleagues, he does not enjoy being inked, therefore you won’t find him covered in tattoos or supporting the local tattoo shops in Manchester.

And anyone hoping to follow Rodri’s activities on social media would be sorely let down because he doesn’t care for Instagram either.

Spanish international Rodri juggled his career at Man City to finish a business management degree 

University challenge

Rodri lived under the radar when he was starring in LaLiga, earning rave reviews at Villarreal two seasons ago, and living his life as a student.

Shunning renting a posh apartment, Rodri lived in a shared space at the Universidad de Castellon in eastern Spain.

He studied Business Studies and Economics, and balanced a precarious football career with his degree, never missing a lecture.

And it left his fellow students completely baffled that a pro footballer they were seeing playing every weekend was floating around the student halls.

Rodri undertook Business Studies and Economics during his time at Villarreal, when he was pictured studying in basic student halls 

Education has always been important to the midfielder 

Rodri studied Business Studies and Economics at the Universidad de Castellon

The room Rodri lived in during his university studies

“People were shocked when they saw Rodri, who was playing in the top flight but still living at the university residence,” his friend Valentin Henarejo told Marca.

“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.”

Going pro never changed him

Money for Rodri, who earns around £220,000-per-week at the Etihad, isn’t what motivates him, according to his mate that remembers his early days as he began to find his feet in Spain’s top flight.

In fact, rather than splash the cash on a Ferrari or Lamborghini like a lot of footballers, his first car was an old-banger he bought from an elderly lady.

Rodri’s first car was an old Opel Corsa he bought off an elderly lady 

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

“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.”

A practical boy, it could have been easy for Rodri’s personality to change when he began getting talked about by the Spanish press as the successor to midfield regista Busquets.

However, that wasn’t the case.

Henarejo revealed: “When he got to the first division he didn’t change.

“On a personal level his day-to-day life was the same. Train, travel to play, rest, study… as much as he could.

“He made the step up well, although there are always difficult moments when things don’t go well, but we helped each other mutually.”