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Kyle Walker insists Rodri has ‘weaknesses’ in his game and reveals England have seen videos of them

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Manchester City captain and England’s mainstay right-back has insisted that his club teammate but Euro 2024 final opponent Rodri has ‘weaknesses’ in his game.

England and Spain will go head-to-head in Sunday night’s European Championships final in the German capital of Berlin, in what could be a true crowning moment for any of Manchester City’s representatives at Olympiastadion.

The last two seasons have seen Manchester City’s Euro 2024 final contingent claim a staggering six trophies at club level, while Rodrigo was crown winner of the UEFA Nations League last summer as part of a true revival of the Spanish national team.

Such have been the levels and performances set out by Rodri across competitions over the last two seasons in particular, that many are calling for the 28-year-old to be seriously considered as a the recipient of the next Ballon d’Or award.

But despite the widespread praise and admiration for Rodri’s performances for both Manchester City and Spain, one teammate and competitor for this Sunday’s European Championship title has been somewhat critical.

Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT ahead of England’s showdown with Spain on Sunday night, Kyle Walker has insisted while he is aware of the outstanding qualities of Rodri, he and his Three Lions teammates have seen videos that outline his ‘weaknesses’.

“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 admitted. “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.”

He continued, “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 the goals. And as a defence, we need to make sure we keep clean sheets.”

Kyle Walker was voted as Manchester City’s new club captain for the 2023/24 season and beyond last summer, following the exit of Ilkay Gundogan to FC Barcelona on a free transfer after the Treble season heroics.

Despite being the official leadership figure of Pep Guardiola’s first-team, Walker continues to attract transfer interest from a number of options throughout the game, including a previous suitor reported last summer.

Vincent Kompany and Bayern Munich are understood to remain as admirers of Walker’s game, while decision makers in the Saudi Pro League are also strongly considering the profile of the 33-year-old as a poster signing from the European game.

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