Paco González, di director of Tiempo de Juego, don express im main worry as Spain prepare to face Cabo Verde for di World Cup. Im say di key thing na to see if Rodri go fit show di same level wey im get before injury. ‘I want see if Rodri go appear like Rodri,’ González tok, meaning im dey check if di midfielder don recover well and if im fit last 90 minutes.
González say im no get any doubt for di rest of di team—defence, midfield, or attack. Im even yarn say wen di ‘beasts’ (di main attackers) dey ready, dem go play. But Rodri im health and form na di main worry for di coach and fans.
But Rodri no be only one dey cause wahala for Spain camp. Reports say di transfer market don create division inside di dressing room. Rodri and Marc Cucurella don become centre of tension between Barcelona and Real Madrid players. Cucurella don already sign for Real Madrid, and Rodri dey consider same move after World Cup.
Di Barcelona players no too happy about Cucurella move, especially because im come from Barcelona youth system. Dem feel say im suppose never wear Real Madrid shirt. And Rodri, as one of di captains, dey cause even bigger concern. Im dey think say moving to Real Madrid go be di last big challenge for im career, but im don share dis thought inside im circle.
Di tension dey grow because Rodri influence for di team big. Di Barcelona players no dey comfortable with di idea of two key players joining their rival. Luis de la Fuente, di coach, know say im must stop dis division before e affect di team performance. Spain need to stay united as a block, but di internal fight dey threaten dat.
Meanwhile, Martín Zubimendi dey enjoy im best moment for career. Di midfielder don help Arsenal win Premier League and reach Champions League final. But for Spain, im dey compete for same position with Rodri, wey be Ballon d’Or winner. Zubimendi get full trust from De la Fuente, and im don cover Rodri wen im dey injured. Im dey come from Real Sociedad and don spend six years there before join Arsenal.
Zubimendi dey known for im tactical intelligence and ability to balance di team. Im dey read game well and anticipate opponent moves. For dis World Cup, where many matches dey, im role go be important. De la Fuente fit rely on am if Rodri no dey fully fit or if di tension too much.
Di Spain debut against Cabo Verde don end in disappointing draw. Di team no fit score more dan one goal, and di performance frustrate fans. Now, di internal issues dey add to di pressure. De la Fuente get work to do—both on di pitch and inside di dressing room.
