Rodri may be snubbed for football’s biggest individual honours due to ‘lack of marketing’ but it “doesn’t bother” him at all

Manchester City’s Rodri has shut down the idea that he requires more ‘marketability’ in order to be recognised by the global football community.

The 28-year-old Spanish international is one of only a select few top-level professional footballers to have no social media presence, and continues to live a very private lifestyle off the football pitch.

Rodri infamously continued residence at University halls despite having already secured himself a big-money contract in Spanish football earlier in his career, and the Spaniard maintained his studies after completing a move to Manchester City in 2019.

And while the subdued lifestyle and low-key presence is obviously to be admired in the present day, some believe that Rodri’s lack of marketing presence or online status in the game could be holding him back from claiming some of the sport’s greatest individual honours.

Speaking during an exclusive interview with The Guardian’s Sid Lowe, Alvaro Morata’s suggestion that he ‘lacks marketing’ was put to Rodri directly, who insisted that it is far from being a focus of his in his football career.

“I don’t play football for that,” Rodri responded. “Maybe people would like me to be more marketable and he (Alvaro Morata) sometimes says: ‘Mate, you should…’ but I understand football differently.

“I know how it works so I don’t get frustrated if (I get overlooked). If one day someone wants to reward the work, that’s welcome, but it doesn’t bother me at all.”

Despite Rodri’s lack of online presence, his superstar status within the game is hard to be matched at the very top of the sport, having recorded some of the most notable performances and moments in a Manchester City shirt since joining the club.

The former Atletico Madrid and Villarreal man will no doubt go down in Manchester City history forever, after he became the UEFA Champions League final winning goalscorer in 2023, with his solitary goal claiming a 1-0 win over Inter in Istanbul, Turkey.

Rodri’s stellar performances have also enormously contributed to Manchester City’s successful pursuit of other major honours in the game, as well as Spain’s successful run to a UEFA Nations League crown last year, too.