Rodri 'even better' than Gonzalez imagined

Manchester City midfielder Nico Gonzalez says team-mate Rodri is "even better" than he imagined.

Gonzalez, 23, joined City from Porto for £50m in January to bolster the midfield following a serious knee injury to Spanish compatriot Rodri.

The Ballon d'Or winner has made only two substitute appearances since last September, including half an hour in City's opening game victory over Wydad AC at the Club World Cup.

Asked if he thought Rodri is as good as he thought he would be, Gonzalez replied: "Even better.

"I try to see all the passes the players don't see and take as much from him as I can. He was here in America at the Super Bowl [when he joined] and had a couple of weeks off.

"He helps me a lot - he is Spanish and we are starting to have a good relationship."

He added: "He has been [back] a couple of months - he is an amazing player and really good in everything that can be good in a midfielder.

"I am trying to learn the most I can and I think I am starting to watch him at his best level. I am seeing things that I haven't seen in a lot of midfielders."