Rodri prepares for his first El Clasico
Ballon d'Or winner Rodri is set for his El Clasico debut. The Barcelona midfielder was rested ahead of the high-stakes match against Real Madrid.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Bryan Berlin
For Rodri, who has collected almost every major trophy at both club and international levels, this Sunday presents a fresh challenge. The midfielder is set to feature in his first-ever El Clasico, a fixture that remains the pinnacle of the Spanish domestic season.
Ahead of the recent Champions League clash against PSG, Rodri and Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick agreed that he should not start. Despite the magnitude of the game, the player needed a recovery period given his heavy workload—having logged nearly 1,000 minutes across 15 matches for club and country this season.
It is a notable narrative: while others like Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe are discussed as the future of the game, it is Rodri who enters the pitch as the reigning Ballon d'Or holder. His summer move to Barcelona was driven by Deco's sporting project, despite firm interest from Real Madrid.
Now fully rested, Rodri is focused on the upcoming derby. His ability to control the tempo of the game will be vital for Barcelona as they look to assert their dominance in the fixture against their biggest rivals.