We’re running out of superlatives to describe Manchester City’s midfield lynchpin, Rodri. He’s just won the Player of the Tournament award at Euro 2024 as Spain regained their European crown, and now Manchester City fans hope he will continue his form in the new Premier League campaign.
Following his 2019 transfer from Atletico Madrid, Rodri took a year to find his feet in the hectic English game before helping the Sky Blues to four successive league titles.
A historic treble followed in 2023, where he scored the winning goal in the Champions League final and was also named Player of the Tournament there.
Now 28-years of age, Rodri is in his prime, and, alongside the likes of Phil Foden, Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne, he is a player that City will rely on to extend their league-winning run to five years.
Rarely do we see a player who has such a huge influence on his team’s results; when he scored the decisive goal in the Sky Blues’ 3-1 win over West Ham in May to confirm the 2024 title, he completed 50 matches unbeaten in the Premier League.
A strong and physical player, Rodri is one of the best tacklers in the game, able to break up play and launch attacks with a superb array of passing, and, of course, he weighs in with crucial goals in the biggest games.
He’s just getting better and better, and there is little doubt that Rodri can continue his Euro form when he returns to the Etihad Stadium, with one tiny caveat.
There is a rumour circulating in the Spanish press that Real Madrid might come calling for City’s main man, as they see him as the ideal powerhouse in their own midfield to complement the attacking play of Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde.
Here at SBOTOP, we expect a battle royale between Los Blancos and the Sky Blues for European dominance, and I suspect Pep Guardiola will move heaven and earth to keep Rodri in Manchester.
At the other end of the table (probably), according to the pre-season Premier League 2024 betting odds, Everton will be in yet another relegation scrap, and they will hope the man who saves them annually, keeper Jordan Pickford, will do the business again.
He returns to Goodison Park on the back of a second consecutive Euro runners-up medal, and, while England fans were scratching their heads at some of the outfield play during Euro 2024, there is little dissent when it comes to the last line of defence.
Pickford collected two clean sheets in Germany. Against the Netherlands, he was beaten by a Xavi Simons worldie, and there was little he could do as Spain tore the Three Lions defence apart twice in the final.
Pickford also helped his team win a quarter-final penalty shootout against Switzerland, and his big personality will be crucial once again if the Toffees are to avoid relegation.
Spain’s 2-1 win in the Euro final owed much to the wing play of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, who combined for La Roja’s opener, while it was wing-back Marc Cucurella who sent over a superb cross for Mikel Oyarzabal to score the winner.
This could be a big season for the 26-year-old Cucurella in his third year at Chelsea after switching from Brighton and Hove Albion in 2022.
He has represented Spain at every level and won selection for the Euro 2024 squad, becoming a key player in La Roja’s successful tournament.
Cucurella is a big-hearted player and a very awkward opponent—strong in the tackle and he never shirks from a battle.
Chelsea are spending again, and new manager Enzo Maresca is under pressure to pick up some positive Premier League 2024 results pretty quickly, and he will hope Cucurella can bring his Euro success to Stamford Bridge.
The Blues’ target will be a top-four place, and they will have the likes of Liverpool in their sights—another team with a rich history and a change of manager in the summer.
Head coach Arne Slot will be delighted to have watched his compatriot, Cody Gakpo, play so well for his country at the Euros. The Netherlands reached the semi-finals and the Liverpool forward was in a six-way tie for the Golden Boot with three goals.
He won the man-of-the-match award after the Oranje’s 2-1 win over Poland and continued to put in dynamic performances with his strong running and exceptional dribbling skills. With 15 goals from 56 games for the Reds, Gakpo has made a pretty good start to life on Merseyside. The club has high hopes that this could be a big season for the 25-year-old, as he brings his Euro momentum back to Liverpool.
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