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4 months ago
19
Eagle-eyed viewers will notice Rodri's peculiar choice of name on the back of his shirt when he lines up for Spain in the Euro 2024 final tomorrow night.
The midfield metronome has dazzled for his country at the tournament this summer and will hope to inspire them to silverware when they take on England in Berlin.
But despite him being commonly recognised as Rodri, the name on his jersey for both Manchester City and Spain, etched above the No 16, instead says Rodrigo.
He was born Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante, meaning that his moniker of Rodri is in fact a nickname that has become commonplace for pundits and commentators.
The 28-year-old has used his first name on his shirt at all three of his clubs to date - Villarreal, Atletico Madrid and City - as well as the Spanish national side.
Spain midfielder Rodri does not use his surname on the back of his shirt for club or country
Instead, he has opted for his first name at all three of his clubs and the Spanish national side
Spanish players have been known to opt for their first name instead of their surname, Xavi Hernandez at Barcelona and Raul Gonzalez at Real Madrid two examples.
Rodri's decision to choose Rodrigo is similar with the large letters emblazoned across his back merely a shortened nickname that quickly took hold.
Several other players previously in action at the European Championship also used their first names, including the Netherlands' Virgil van Dijk and Memphis Depay.
Ahead of Sunday's final, Rodri's team-mate at City, Kyle Walker, has claimed he is aware of weaknesses in the midfielder's game that the Three Lions could 'exploit'.
'He's a great player, and he controls the game and dictates the game at his own pace as I know at club level,' Walker told talkSPORT.
Rodri will be crucial for Spain when they take on England in the Euro 2024 final on Sunday
'But we've seen video clips [of him], I know him first and foremost, there's weaknesses in everyone's game. No one's the perfect article.
'But we need to try and exploit those weaknesses as best as we can and get the players that we have in dangerous areas to go and make sure that they can go score.
'And as a defence, we need to make sure we keep clean sheets.'
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