Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City new boy Rodri will be an important player for the next “five or six years”.
The Blues shelled out a record sum to bring in the man they believe will be the long-term successor to Fernandinho and the 23-year-old has made an immediate impression at the club and is part of the touring squad that have belatedly landed in Shanghai for the Premier League Asia Trophy.
Guardiola confirmed that both Rodri and Angeliño would start Wednesday’s game with West Ham United as he looks to bed the new players into his title-winning squad.
“He is a young player who is going to be important for the next five or six years,” the manager said on Tuesday.
“The first 10 days have been really good, he will play his first game tomorrow. He and Angeliño will play tomorrow.”
One absentee from the touring squad was Fabian Delph, who completed his move to Everton. Signed from Villa in 2015, the midfielder thrives as a makeshift left-back during the 2017/18 Centurions campaign under Guardiola but saw his opportunities grow more limited last season and the arrival of Angeliño presents more competition.
The manager paid tribute to the player after his Premier League move was confirmed by the Toffees.
“It was an incredible three years for us. Personally he helped me a lot and helped us a lot, especially two season ago when he won the league with him playing in a position that he isn’t used to. Normally he is a midfield player but he played full-back and everyone here - all the club, all the staff, all his mates - wish him all the best in a big club like Everton.”
