Guardiola's First Comment on Rodri's Ballon d'Or Nomination

Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola revealed that the inspiring performance of midfielder Rodri in Euro 2024 with Spain has made him a real contender for this year’s Ballon d'Or. Rodri was a key player for Manchester City, helping the team win the Premier League title for the fourth consecutive time last season. He also assisted the Spanish national team in capturing the Euro 2024 trophy after defeating England 2-1 in last week’s final. This achievement led to the 28-year-old player being awarded the Best Player of Euro 2024 and becoming a candidate for the prestigious Ballon d'Or for 2024. In comments to the media before Manchester City's opening match of their American tour against Celtic, scheduled for this evening, Guardiola expressed great admiration for Rodri's unique qualities, adding, "When I watched Spain, I saw him performing at the level he has played at for many years; his consistency was excellent." The Spanish coach continued, "There are a few contenders for the Ballon d'Or from Real Madrid and Manchester City; I cannot deny how happy he (Rodri) is because being in the competition is fantastic for him, his family, his friends, and of course, Manchester City—we are very proud."