Signed from Atletico Madrid for what now seems like a ridiculously low fee of £62.8m, but which was a club record at the time, the soon-to-be 30-year-old has been a metronomic presence, and his excellence in his midfield role has allowed the likes of Bernardo Silva, Erling Haaland and Phil Foden et al to flourish.
Indeed, when the former Ballon d'Or winner was out for months recently with a knee injury, the loss was palpable, particularly when one considers City's record when Rodri is in situ, as it makes for incredible reading.
The Spaniard has, to date, made 288 appearances in all competitions, of which an astonishing 208 games have been won. Another 46 have been drawn, and just 34 games lost.
The most important Man City goal of the last 10 years
29 goals and 32 assists across competitions during that time is a fabulous return for a player in his position, with arguably the most important goal in City's recent history - the winner in the 2023 Champions League final to earn the club its first ever title - coming from a sweep of his right foot.
Whisper it quietly, though, he hasn't been quite so influential this season as in previous campaigns.
For example, whilst his 90.3% pass success rate in this season's Premier League is unbelievably good, it does evidence a drop off from his last full season (2023/24), when he found a colleague 92.5% of the time.
That may not sound like much of a difference, but that 23/24 campaign also saw him make a total of 3,633 passes, and with just nine EPL games left for City this season, Rodri has managed only 1,220 to date in 2025/26.
Drop off in form is marked
He's also created only 20 chances in the English top-flight during 25/26, his worst return since signing for the club, barring the season he largely missed.
91 duels won from 133 attempted have given Rodri a 68.4% success rate in the current campaign, which is his best return. However, this particular stat is slightly misleading, as in most of the previous season's he's been at the club, he's contested well over 300 duels in each (not counting his injury-hit 2024/25).
Even his percentage of tackles won, something that has always been Rodri's forte, has dipped alarmingly.
Of the 33 he's attempted this season, 17 have been won and 16 lost, for a poor 51.5% showing. During 23/24, this was at a much healthier 61.4%, with 43 of 70 tackles having a successful outcome.
Great skill set for a big man
Rodri does bring a decent amount of physicality to his role, of course, and there aren't many players, if any, that are so imposing and have his skill set to boot.
That is, potentially, what makes considering moving him on one of the most difficult questions that Guardiola and the City board are going to have to ponder.
Do the Cityzens freshen up a few areas and go again with all guns blazing next season, or do they tie down those players that are the wrong side of their peak years but still have much to offer in terms of elite-level experience?
It should be remembered, of course, that Rodri's contract with the serial Premier League winners runs out in the summer of 2027, meaning he could, should he so desire, start negotiating with other clubs at the turn of the year.
Potential for a big payday elsewhere
With Real Madrid heavily rumoured to be willing to bring the player back to the Spanish capital, City need to decide quickly whether they wish to offer arguably their most important player a contract extension to take him into his mid 30s, or look to a younger player cast in a similar mould, and cash in on Rodri whilst they still can.
Even if the club were willing to push the boat out financially for a player that is already on a reported weekly salary of £220,000 (less than half of Erling Haaland's reported remuneration), the decision may rest with him and him alone.
The chance to play for arguably the world's biggest club, and join on a free in the same way Kylian Mbappe did, earning a pretty penny with a hefty signing-on fee in the process, certainly isn't beyond the realms of possibility either... Watch this space.
