Thierry Henry says Barcelona have found their new Sergio Busquets in Rodri

Thierry Henry believes Barcelona’s signing of Rodri has given the Catalan club a new version of former midfielder Sergio Busquets, describing the Spain international as a player capable of transforming the team.

Barcelona begin their Champions League campaign on Wednesday evening when they face Feyenoord in the opening round of the competition’s first stage.

Henry, the former Barcelona and Arsenal forward who now works as an analyst for CBS Sports, was asked whether Rodri was a better player than Busquets. Although he did not want to enter that debate, Henry said Rodri had emerged as the closest equivalent to the former Barcelona midfielder in the modern era.

“I don’t know if he is better than Busquets or not, that is a completely different subject, but I never expected to see another player like him. I have seen one, and I can see one now. Barcelona have signed another player like him,” Henry said, in comments reported by Mundo Deportivo.

Rodri was recently named the best player at the World Cup, but Henry said individual awards were not the best measure of Busquets’ influence, pointing out that the former Barcelona midfielder never won the Ballon d’Or either.

“Busquets did not win the Ballon d’Or, and neither did Xavi or Iniesta. What I want to say is that if this player stays physically fit, and I hope he does not suffer an injury, he will change the team completely,” Henry added.

“They won 5-0 against Valencia and did not concede a goal from a counter-attack. That is what he brings to the team, and that is why this team will be extremely dangerous.”

Henry highlighted Rodri’s defensive positioning, his ability to control central areas and the intelligence he shows when Barcelona are without the ball.

“There was no pressure on the ball; he controlled the central area, pulled the winger away and followed the opponent as he should,” he said.

“As a defensive midfielder, he recycled possession and moved forward immediately. Because of his style of play and his excellent vision, it is his responsibility to be able to anticipate the opponent’s movements and stop him.”

The former France international also focused on one particular sequence in which Rodri dealt with pressure on the wing without committing himself to a challenge or being drawn out of position.

“Did you see how, when he pressed the player on the wing, he did not fall to the ground? He stopped about two metres away, analysed the situation, allowed his team to regain possession, then returned to the middle, controlled the ball and passed it to the other side,” Henry said.

“He is a different player, and we know that. We hope he stays physically fit for their sake.”

Barcelona’s meeting with Feyenoord will provide Rodri with the opportunity to continue his new chapter at the club as they start their European campaign.