Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says Rodri is maturing into a major club leader.
The combative midfielder has played 43 matches 3,515 minutes - this season across all competitions, the most of any Manchester City player this campaign.
Guardiola said, Huge personality. Huge competitor.
Every three days, every training session, he never rests. An incredible signing for us.
I think he had the margin and space in his development as a football player to do better in some situations.
"But, he solved it with his incredible mentality. So important.
He's so important.
He gives us a lot of things. [He's been] many years with us and he understands perfectly what we need and is quick in the head. He's reading [situations] much, much better.
In these balls and transitions he always wins the duels.
If we lose the ball, it's a chance for them and he has ability to sense and smell to win it.
But I still have the feeling he can improve."