Aymeric Laporte has claimed that Manchester City have a player who could go down as one of the most underrated midfielders in the history of the game.
Considering how many brilliant midfielders City have, it is perhaps difficult to imagine that ever being the case.
But over time, certain players’ legacies are restored and celebrated while others do not get spoken about as much as they deserve.
For instance, it is tough to imagine a player who stole the show as much as Kevin De Bruyne has will become underappreciated as time goes on.
With the number of blockbuster moments De Bruyne has produced, he might be one of the most memorable midfielders the game has ever seen.
However, a more understated midfielder like Bernardo Silva might not be hailed in 10 to 20 years.
Not because the Portuguese international has not been a maestro during his career but because his lack of goals and assists could mean some might fail to mention him as an absolute modern-day great.
Aymeric Laporte says Manchester City star could go down as one of the most “underrated” in history
One hopes that is not the case with Ilkay Gundogan, despite him not being a current City player as he was truly magnificent.
Leaving City aside for a second as well, a midfielder like Clarence Seedorf perhaps deserves more credit for how dominant he was for Ajax, AC Milan and Real Madrid.
However, such a rule does not only apply to midfielders but players across all positions.
For instance, Pablo Zabaleta seems to be rarely mentioned as one of the best right-backs in Premier League history, right alongside Kyle Walker, Gary Neville and Branislav Ivanovic to name a few.
Similarly, Sergio Aguero should be heralded as one of the best strikers in the history of the game, let alone just English football due to how uniquely well-rounded and prolific a goalscorer he was.
When a user claimed that Rodri could go down as one of the most underrated defensive midfielders of all time, Aymeric Laporte replied on X, “Probably one of the most underrated as well because he doesn’t care about his image and communication. But he’s up there.”
The £62.5 million man is not on any social media platform and as a result, he only makes headlines for his accomplishments on the pitch.
After Rodri produced a masterclass against Aston Villa, Aymeric Laporte described him as a “baller.”
Great point about Rodri made by Laporte
In our view, Aymeric Laporte is spot on about Rodri.
As remarkable a midfielder as the former Villareal anchor is, due to how understated his demeanour is and how he does not create headlines off the pitch, he might go under the radar in years to come.
One hopes that is not the case as Rodri is one hell of a footballer and is on course to go down as an all-time great and ideally, his legacy will be celebrated for years to come as a potential footballing icon.
But the way discourse around footballers from the past works, often players with a persona and stories surrounding them unrelated to the sport itself are celebrated due to being likeable characters.
Rodri seemingly focuses the most on what is the most important for a player and that is football, which is why his name might escape certain fans and pundits’ memories, as Aymeric Laporte suggested.
Having played with Rodri for club and country, Laporte perhaps recognises how understated the midfield maestro truly is.