Manchester City midfielder Rodri has admitted that Harry Kane would have helped ‘a lot’ but has put his faith in Ferran Torres to fill City’s goalscoring needs.
Pep Guardiola’s side were heavily linked with a move for Kane throughout the summer, with it believed Guardiola wanted him and Jack Grealish to spearhead a new-look side.
Ultimately it was only Grealish who would arrive, with Tottenham remaining firm on their refusal to sell Kane despite Manchester City being willing to spend a mammoth fee and the player making it clear he wanted to move.
It means the Premier League champions look likely to spend this season without the true number nine they wanted, having seen Sergio Aguero move to Barcelona on a free transfer.
The beginning of this season has seen Ferran Torres used in the position instead, and compatriot Rodri is of no doubt he can be a success there.
“A player of Kane’s stature helps a lot, but we have a team that has been able to win the Premiership, which is almost like an internal Champions League, and you don’t have to change much,” he told El Pais.
“The most valuable thing is the goal because there are very few players who can score more than 20 goals, but that doesn’t guarantee anything either.
“We have other players like Ferran, for example, to play there. As a midfielder, I like to see him there because he creates a lot of space for you, and he doesn’t just come in to face you.
“In addition, a finishing touch and a goalscoring ability.”
Last season was seen as something of a disappointing one for Manchester City, despite the fact they finished with the Premier League title and Carabao Cup in the cabinet.
That’s because they had their first real shot at winning the Champions League, reaching the final for the first time under Guardiola’s leadership.
They eventually lost 1-0 to Chelsea in that final, with many believing they missed a great opportunity to get the trophy that is at the top of their wishlist.
The defeat somewhat overshadowed their other success, but Rodri doesn’t share that opinion.
“I do not see it that way, it is an accumulation of feeling,” he added.
“It was a great joy to get the Premier, how the team developed and how I was. When you aspire to play for everything, you reach the limit at the end and maybe I felt it.
“I didn’t eat the icing on the cake, but that’s part of football. We couldn’t win the Champions League and that was a bitter pill to swallow.
“I try to draw positive conclusions, I think it was a complete year and, above all, an apprenticeship to dose more and arrive better at the important part of the seasons. I gave it my all from the start.”
