Rodri is a footballing encyclopedia and, many would argue, the best defensive midfielder in the world.
There are few better when it comes to positional play, and he is one of the best because of what he does and what he brings out in his teammates.
Without the ball, he gives a sense of security in front of the defense both in the press and when he drops back, especially when Barcelona lose the ball.
But he also excels with the ball because he distributes it quickly and always chooses the right route. All this can be seen in every Barcelona game.
His arrival has been described as one of the club’s most significant developments on and off the pitch in recent years – playing in all but one match of Barcelona’s perfect start to the campaign.
For a squad that has lost several senior voices in recent seasons, Rodri’s experience in high-pressure moments has added a missing stability.
He has taken on an informal mentoring role with the club’s academy graduates, several of whom already look to him as a point of reference.
He explains instead of just showing off, an instinct that surprises his coaching staff as much as his football.
He doesn’t wear the captain’s armband and probably won’t for a while, but many in the dressing room are already talking about him as captain in everything but the title.
Boss Hansi Flick made it clear from day one that Barcelona had signed a type of midfielder they lacked, but also a reference point for a squad in the midst of a rebuild.
His partnership with Pedri emerged as one of the more promising signs, as there were doubts about it.
The two mesh naturally, controlling the pace and sharing responsibility for the turnover. Flick sees them being able to control matches through positioning, possession and reading rather than athleticism.
Asked to compare Flick with Guardiola, Rodri gave an unequivocal answer: they are nothing alike.
He said he came to Barcelona expecting rondos and possession drills, but faced grueling physical work in the gym for days.
Guardiola believed in competition to increase the intensity of the match. Flick took a different approach, working hard from the start with players who arrived later in the pre-season.
As you might expect from his resume and personality, Rhodri adapted instead of resisting.