Jody Morris believes Rodri is the best midfielder in the Premier League over the likes of Declan Rice, Moises Caicedo and Ryan Gravenberch.
Rice and Caicedo have shined in the top-flight this season for Arsenal and Chelsea respectively following their big-money transfers two years ago.
Arsenal paid £105m to sign Rice from West Ham in 2023 in the same summer window that Chelsea recruited Caicedo from Brighton for £115m.
Football pundit Gary Neville is convinced Caicedo has become the best midfielder in the Premier League but Jamie Carragher feels Rice is better.
Former Chelsea midfielder Morris, though, still thinks Manchester City’s Rodri is the superior player after his Ballon d’Or triumph in 2024, even if has struggled to hit the same heights more recently due to injury issues.
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Asked to compare Caicedo to Rice, Rodri and Gravenberch, Morris told Metro via Ignition Casino: ‘For me, that type of midfielder, I think Rodri was the pinnacle when he won the Ballon d’Or.
‘He hasn’t quite hit those levels (since) because of injury. I think he’s slightly different to Rice. I think Rice has a little bit more going forward.
‘Rice can play as a No.6 at a really top-class level but I think you’re taking a little bit away from what he can offer when you get him to stay there.
‘At the end of last season, and this season, he plays more as a No.8. But I think he’s right up there.
‘I think Rice is a world-class player, I think Caicedo is a world-class player. Gravenberch, his levels last year, you have to say he had to be in the Team of the Year.
‘I think those three midfielders were the best performers (last season). I don’t think Gravenverch has hit the same levels this year, the same as Rodri.’
Morris is a massive fan of Caicedo and has declared that the Ecuadorian’s value has gone up from the £115m Chelsea paid for him two years ago.
‘The term ‘world-class’ can be used too freely these days – but he is genuinely a world-class player,’ Morris added.
‘Anyone who costs over £100m, you’re always going to have an extra focus on how well they do. But I certainly think he’s worth more than what we paid for him based on the level of his performances.
‘Last season, he was outstanding. He’s even more confident this season when in possession.
‘Not only is he producing goals, some of the passes he’s picking and his all-round display is that of an all-action midfielder.
‘He’s not just a destroyer who intercepts and upsets the rhythm of the opposition. He’s going to break teams further up the pitch, like with the goal against Tottenham.
‘For me he is phenomenal and he’s only going to get better. He’s becoming a leader in the dressing room.
‘I don’t think you could pick anyone who’s performing better than him at the moment at Chelsea.’
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