Rodri makes his feelings clear on Declan Rice with 'not the same' comment on Arsenal rival

Manchester City lynchpin Rodri has had his say on Arsenal counterpart and rival Declan Rice as he compared himself with the England international.

The pair are seen as the two best holding midfielders in the Premier League, if not world football.

Spanish international Rodri has been at City since 2019 after he made the move from Atletico Madrid after his £62.6 million release clause was met.

Since then, Rodri has become a key player for City with 26 goals in 257 games across all competition, winning four Premier League titles and the Champions League, as well as the FA Cup and two League Cups.

The 28-year-old has also claimed silverware with Spain, winning both the Nations League and most recently this summer's European Championship and his success has helped him claim a place on the list of nominees for the Ballon d'Or.

In the final in Berlin, Rodri's Spain beat Rice's England 2-1 in the latest meeting between the two holding midfielders.

Rice moved to Arsenal last summer from West Ham United for a club record initial £100 million transfer fee, leaving the Hammers on a high with the newly-renamed Conference League title.

Rice has scored seven goals in 54 games so far for the Gunners as Mikel Arteta's side finished a close second to City in the Premier League table and will be seeking to go one better this campaign.

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Rodri, who has been linked with a move away from City in recent weeks, has now spoken on the players he admires the most in his position and named Arsenal duo Rice and Jorginho as two he likes, though he pointed out that the England man performs a different role to what he does.

And going further back, the Spanish midfielder named compatriots Sergio Busquets and Xabi Alonso, as well as Manchester United's Casemiro as others he has admired in the past who play in his position.

Speaking to ESPN, Rodri said: "If you ask me names I think I would be not fair because I will leave some ones that deserve, but I don't know. Let's say right now, Declan I like a lot, what he does, even though he's not the same role I do.

"I love Jorginho, when he was in the best shape.

"Who else? In the past for example, I always said Busquets, Casemiro, Xabi Alonso, these kind of players that they can manage the game."