Pep Guardiola backed Rodri for a big future with the club after the midfielder earned praise during Manchester City's 4-0 win at Watford.
It has been a promising debut season from the 24-year-old faced with the daunting task of filling Fernandinho's role in what has been a challenging campaign where the team collectively have simply not been able to perform as consistently as is required to win the Premier League.
Rodri will rarely attract headlines because of his position - as his predecessor didn't - but he was effective enough in the win over Watford to be given the man-of-the-match award by the host broadcaster.
That continues an impressive run of form for the Spaniard since the restart: in the six games he has started, City have won five with an aggregate score of 24-2 whereas in the five where he hasn't they have won only three with an aggregate score of 7-4.
Guardiola has been effusive about Rodri since signing the player and has seen the player develop in the holding midfield role as he learns more what is expected of him and the team in the systems demanded by the manager.
"Rodri came from an important club in Spain in Atletico Madrid and it is not easy to be involved so quickly like he has done in the Premier League," said Guardiola.
"He is a guy that is going to help us a lot, especially his mentality. He is open-minded to learn and I'm happy for him."
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