Rodri: Rafa Nadal is my role model, he represents everything an athlete should be

At the end of September, Rodri suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his knee, ending his season. In the meantime, the Ballon d’Or ended up in his hands. Since then, he has been a frequent guest in the media, addressing numerous topics, including the obligatory discussion about the alleged disrespect towards Real Madrid and the claims that Vinícius was "robbed." Speaking to Relevo, he opened up about the people who inspire him and behind-the-scenes moments.

Rodri has been spotted at tennis tournaments on numerous occasions, seizing every opportunity to indulge in his love for the racquet sport. This week, he might appear in the spotlight again in Málaga, where the Davis Cup Finals will take place. The tournament also marks the farewell of Rafael Nadal, one of Rodri's idols.

He sees similarities between himself and the "Bull of Mallorca" and finds parallels in certain aspects.

"I can draw a clear comparison between myself and Rafa Nadal in one regard," Rodri told Relevo, before elaborating:

"It’s about the people he trusts — his uncle Toni, his family, and those who stand by him. That reminds me of myself. They followed him wherever he went and were the pillars of his career. The people around him don’t always tell him what he wants to hear, and that’s the same for me."

For Rodri, the Spanish tennis player is the perfect prototype of an athlete.

"To me, Rafa represents everything an athlete should be and should possess — competitiveness, dedication, and the ability to make comebacks both on and off the court. He’s never broken a racket in his life and has always respected the rules."

Rodri also revealed details of his conversations with Rafa.

"I told him, and I’ll say it again now: 'He is a role model, someone to emulate.' I was lucky enough to meet him."

He also had the chance to chat with Carlos Alcaraz, as he once used his free time to visit Roland Garros.

"I spent a lot of time talking to Alcaraz. He’s an unusual guy, very fun and amusing, and remarkably down-to-earth despite being so young," Rodri concluded.

Rodri opens up about Vinicius and Real Madrid