Rodrigo has signed a new three-year extension to his Manchester City contract, a deal which means the 26-year-old will remain at the Club until June 2027.

On 12 July 2022, it was announced that Rodrigo Hernández Cascante — known simply as “Rodri” — had agreed a new three-year extension with Manchester City, taking his stay at the Etihad Stadium through to June 2027.

At 26 years old, he committed his immediate future to the club, signalling both his contentment at Man City and the club’s confidence in him as a key piece of the project.

Rodri’s public comments underline just how strong his connection to Manchester City has become. He described the club as a “second family” and said that joining City in the summer of 2019 remains the best decision of his career. He reflected that he has “loved every second” of his time at the club, emphasising the warm reception from supporters, the full backing from the club and coaching staff, and the daily push from the manager.

He credited the improvement in his own game — “I have improved so much as a player” — and extended his gratitude to the manager and all the back-room staff, noting that their commitment to his development has been vital.

Furthermore, Rodri spoke of being proud of the success the club and he have shared since his arrival — but that, far from being satisfied, he feels even hungrier now. “Once you start winning big titles, you don’t want to stop,” he said. He made it clear: the reason he was so pleased to stay longer was because City, for him, offers the best chance of winning trophies.

Club Director of Football Txiki Begiristain also weighed in, saying that Rodri has “been exceptional since coming here” and that he was delighted to agree the new deal. Begiristain praised Rodri’s professionalism — his attitude, lifestyle, training ethic — and added: “He is the perfect example of what a top professional should be.” He emphasised how much the manager loves working with him, and how he believes that Rodri has improved a lot since his arrival and is now one of the best in the world in his position. Everyone at the club wished Rodri the very best for the remainder of his time at City.

If one were to plot Rodri’s impact at Manchester City from 2019 to 2022, the graph would show an unmistakable upward trajectory. He joined from Atlético Madrid in the summer of 2019 and soon became a key component of Pep Guardiola’s side.

Blessed with a remarkable reading of the game, physicality, refined passing and even a sharp eye for goal, Rodri has repeatedly shown that the holding midfield role can be more than simply defensive shielding — it can be the engine, the link, the fulcrum of a dominant side. His intelligence, tactical discipline and understanding of both his role and his teammates have grown steadily.

When he arrived at City, he already carried the reputation of one of Europe’s most promising holding midfielders. His first season was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but he still made his mark — notably ending the campaign with a winners’ medal in the 2020 Carabao Cup final, scoring the decisive header in a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa at Wembley.

With the guidance of the legendary Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho and manager Guardiola (both of whom understand the holding role intimately), Rodri used that first season as a springboard. His influence continued to grow in the 2020-21 campaign, as City rewrote numerous domestic records, regained the Premier League title, retained the League Cup and made a first ever Champions League final appearance.

But the 2021-22 season is widely seen as his finest so far. In a campaign stuffed with individual highlights, despite many of his greatest contributions going under the radar (as holding midfielders often do), Rodri was absolutely central to City defending the Premier League title in dramatic fashion.

One could point to his spectacular long-range strikes against Arsenal, Everton and Watford; an injury-time winner away at Arsenal; or a huge goal-line block at Anfield (in October’s 2-2 draw) — a moment described by the club commentator as “the tackle of the century”. That block denied a goal by Fabinho and proved vital in what eventually became a title-winning season by the finest of margins.

Statistically, he stood out in many ways. He topped the Premier League for the most effective defensive midfielder last term. For example: he made 17 recoveries per 1,000 opposition touches (an outstanding figure). He completed 91.8% of his passes, topped the list for the most successful passes inside the opposition half, and added seven league goals too — a very strong all-round contribution from his position.

Guardiola himself has publicly praised Rodri’s growth: “Now he’s so stable … he is always paying attention and he realises what we are looking for … he’s young and his mentality, he’s a competitor who can show it in every training session and game.” He added that the club knew exactly what they were getting when they went for him — and were confident he still has margins for improvement.

Rodri himself acknowledged the complexity of his role: “It’s not an easy position. You need to find the role; the team needs you and I understand perfectly what the team demands from me. I try to do my best every game and try , For Rodri, committing to Manchester City until 2027 gave him security and stability. He had already found the environment he believed was best suited to his ambitions — an elite club with elite infrastructure, ambitious targets and a manager who trusts him and pushes him. By staying, he signalled his belief that he still had much more to give and develop — and that City was the right place for that continued growth

For Manchester City, rewarding one of their most important players with a fresh deal locks in a pivotal asset. A holding midfielder of Rodri’s profile — tactically astute, physically robust, technically proficient, composed on the ball — is not easy to find. His signing (from Atlético Madrid) in 2019 for a large sum was a statement of intent; extending his contract in 2022 reinforced the message that he is core to the project moving forward.

The club’s sporting leadership praised his professionalism and consistent improvement. Having him secured gives City a firm base around which to build further domestic and European ambitions

A midfielder apart from the glamor positions (striker, winger) committing long-term with such clarity speaks volumes about both his own mindset and the club culture. It says: stability, continuity, trust. For a club like Manchester City, who operate at the elite level year-in, year-out, having key players locked into contracts ensures that the team doesn’t just chase titles but sustains success.

Rodri’s presence gives Manchester City a foundation in midfield that allows flexibility, control and dominance. As the game evolves (especially at Guardiola-managed clubs), the holding midfield role is no longer simply about breaking up attacks — it’s about initiating them, linking defence to attack, dictating tempo and managing transitions. Rodri has matured into that role at City.

From here, several things seem likely:

He will continue to be used as the deep pivot, the “anchor” in the midfield, especially in big matches where control is key.

With his passing accuracy and ability to push play into attacking areas, he will be integral to both defensive stability and offensive initiation.

Mentally and physically, as he grows older (he was 26 at contract renewal), his experience and intelligence will increasingly compensate for any drop in raw athleticism. That should enable him to remain at the top level for years.

City will look to further refine his game: perhaps more goal contribution from late runs, perhaps more leadership responsibilities. The manager’s comments suggest he still believes in Rodri’s capacity to “be a better player”.

The contract until 2027 provides a horizon for City to plan around: squad building, succession planning, training regime all tailor-made to ensure that this central piece stays effective and that the club remains competitive at the highest level

Rodri’s decision to extend his stay at Manchester City was a win-win: for him personally, and for the club collectively. His development since arrival has been impressive; his integration into the club culture seamless; his contribution indispensable. The new contract reflects his importance and the confidence both parties share in each other’s ambition.

It is a statement of faith: faith in his own continued growth and faith in Manchester City’s ability to remain at the summit of English and European football. For the club’s fans, it was yet another signal that the blue of Manchester is long-term, stable, and hungry for more