๐๐๐ผ Rodriโs letter to Manchester City fans.
Dear City fans, I found that saying goodbye is one of the most difficult things in life but I am going to try. Itโs hard to find the words to express how much gratitude, love and support me and my family have experienced all these years.
"I remember how I felt when I arrived, signing for the big Manchester City. It was a moment of pure excitement โ โwow I am going to play with Kevin, Aguero, Silva, Bernardo, John and many others.โ I couldnโt stop smiling. And then Pep, waiting to teach me everything from day one. Pep I can tell you now, I couldnโt handle all those tactics in my head.
"But a question came to me, โcould we handle all these expectations for the next years.โ I think that time answered the question. I knew I came into a top team but I never thought we could be able to create the legacy we made winning trophies, fans around the world, love and respect. We made an example to inspire the next generations not only because the success, also because the way we did it. And the fans were with us every step of the way.
"Many incredible moments come to my mind. My first trophy at City, in my first game. The last minute winners, like Arsenal away. Scoring in the Villa game to reach the Premier League, when it looked so tough. Scoring the goal to win the Champions League that we all wanted so much. The incredible reception you gave me after the Balon dโOr. You cannot imagine how proud I am to be the first player to win this award in a sky blue shirt. Making history, with the Treble, with Four in a Row. We saw things theyโll never see.
"And in the bad moments, also, you never let me down. My first day back on the pitch I realised how much you love me and I understood how special these fans were.
"City didnโt just make me a grow as a player. They made me grow as a human. I saw my brother graduating from Manchester Metropolitan University. I could see my girlfriend working for the NHS. Manchester shaped my whole life.
"I will never forget stepping onto the pitch, seeing a sea of blue sing โnah, nah, nah, nahโฆCITYโ, taking my scooter into town for a coffee, walking through the parks listening to Oasis and always loving Manchesterโs great rain.
"So City fans, itโs time to say goodbye, thanks to the club, the fans, the staff and my teammates. This journey couldnโt be the same without you, my heart will always be Blue.โ
Everyone at Manchester City is devastated to learn our former manager Kevin Keegan has passed away, aged 75.
Kevin was a transformative manager who brought optimism and vibrancy to City during his four-year spell in charge.
The promotion campaign in 2001/02 will never be forgotten, and Kevin then established us once again as a top Premier League side in the years that followed.
Our thoughts are with Kevinโs family and friends at this very difficult time.
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ช๐ธ
๐ ๐ช๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฃ (+ Golden Ball winner)
๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ข๐ก๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐จ๐ (+ winning goal) โญ
๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ก ๐โ๐ข๐ฅ ๐ฅ
At 19, Rodri was living on a university campus while playing for Villarreal ๐โฝ
Now heโs captained Spain to their second World Cup and been named the tournamentโs best player ๐๐
As Rodri once said: โ๐ฝ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฎ ๐๐ค๐ค๐ ๐ข๐ค๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฉ, ๐ฉ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ข๐ ๐ค๐ ๐จ๐ฉ๐ง๐ช๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฃ๐๐.โ, he told @playerstribune โค๏ธ
Moral of the story: ๐ต๐ฌ๐ฝ๐ฌ๐น ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฝ๐ฌ ๐ผ๐ท ๐