It has not been easy to earn a glowing review from Pep Guardiola during his time at Manchester City. For the first 18 months Sergio Aguero was constantly told he needed to work harder. For the past 18 months Leroy Sane has had to make do with “there has never been a doubt about his quality” — the implication being there are doubts about the rest.



Earlier this year, Guardiola launched into a two-minute, uninterrupted declaration of love for Bernardo Silva, lavishing praise on everything from his work-rate to the way he celebrates goals. But even that took Guardiola about a season and a half to offer.



Rodri, however, seems to have got to that stage after just one month in Manchester.



“Every day I’m more convinced that this deal will be one of the best this club has done in the last years,” Guardiola said on Friday. “He will be an incredible holding midfielder for this club, for English football, for many...