England star Adam Wharton has said that he is a big fan of one current Manchester City player.
The 20-year-old midfielder has enjoyed a breakout year in 2024, after he sealed a move to Crystal Palace from Blackburn Rovers and ended up making the England squad for Euro 2024.
Wharton starred for Palace after joining, and now finds himself at the centre of a real clamour to actually start for England, after two poor opening displays at the Euros.
Wharton is a unique midfielder, and somebody who is already being branded a generational talent.
He has largely played as a holding midfielder so far in his career, and he has no doubt studied some of the game’s greats in his position.
And someone he thinks very highly of indeed, is Manchester City lynchpin Rodri.
Adam Wharton is a big fan of Rodri, amid Manchester City transfer interest
A couple of weeks ago, Wharton was actually linked with a move to City.
The club won’t move for him this summer, but supposedly they are keeping tabs on him and see him as a potential signing in the future.
Wharton seems very much like a City player in the making. He is very technical, and always seems to have lots of time and space, which is no accident.
According to The Sun, Wharton is actually a huge fan of City’s midfield general Rodri.
Rodri is now widely seen as the best holding midfielder in the world, after a phenomenal past couple of seasons for City. He was instrumental in the Treble-winning season, and hugely important once again in 2023/24 as he helped City to win a fourth straight Premier League title.
Wharton said of Rodri (Independent): “You see how consistent he’s been in the last few seasons and the way he plays. He rarely has a bad game.
“He’s got a bit of everything. He’s good on the ball, stops attacks, keeps teams penned in. When they clear it, he’s always there to clean it up.
“He isn’t dribbling past five players. You don’t need to do that in that position.
“He just keeps it, gives it and keeps the ball moving to move the opposition. That’s when the gaps come and you can give it to the great players at the top of the pitch.”
Wharton should come and learn off Rodri
It’s interesting to see that Wharton believes Rodri is the best in the world in his position, and perhaps it’s something that will ultimately help Manchester City lure the youngster to the Etihad Stadium.
Rodri could potentially serve as the perfect mentor to Wharton.
Wharton is a remarkable young talent who is currently playing the role that Rodri is, but he does also have the potential to push a bit further forward, just like the City man.
He could learn so much from the £63 million man if he made a move to City.
Perhaps it will happen in a future window. But for now, it’s certainly encouraging that he regards Rodri so highly.