Former Chelsea Star Settles Premier League Midfield Debate
Former Chelsea midfielder Jody Morris has weighed in on one of English football's hottest debates, declaring Manchester City's Rodri as the Premier League's standout midfielder ahead of rivals Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo.
The football pundit made his surprising admission during an exclusive interview with Metro via Ignition Casino, despite acknowledging the exceptional form shown by both Rice and Caicedo this season.
The Ballon d'Or Standard
Morris pointed to Rodri's remarkable achievement of winning the Ballon d'Or in 2024 as evidence of his superior quality, though he noted the Spanish international has struggled with injury problems since that career-high moment.
'For me, that type of midfielder, I think Rodri was the pinnacle when he won the Ballon d'Or,' Morris stated. 'He hasn't quite hit those levels because of injury.'
The former Chelsea coach did acknowledge that Rice brings different qualities to the table, suggesting the England international offers more going forward and has evolved into a different role at Arsenal.
World-Class Talent Across the Board
Morris was generous in his praise for all the midfielders discussed, describing both Rice and Caicedo as world-class players who have justified their substantial transfer fees.
Arsenal broke their transfer record to sign Rice from West Ham for £105 million in 2023, while Chelsea committed £115 million to bring Caicedo from Brighton during the same summer window.
'I think Rice is a world-class player, I think Caicedo is a world-class player,' Morris emphasised, while also praising Ryan Gravenberch's performances last season that he believed warranted inclusion in the Team of the Year.
Caicedo's Rising Value
Morris reserved special praise for Chelsea's Ecuadorian midfielder, declaring that Caicedo's value has actually increased since his record-breaking move to Stamford Bridge two years ago.
'The term 'world-class' can be used too freely these days – but he is genuinely a world-class player,' Morris insisted. 'Anyone who costs over £100m, you're always going to have an extra focus on how well they do. But I certainly think he's worth more than what we paid for him.'
The former midfielder highlighted Caicedo's growing confidence in possession and his evolving role from simply disrupting opposition play to making decisive contributions further up the pitch.
'Not only is he producing goals, some of the passes he's picking and his all-round display is that of an all-action midfielder,' Morris explained. 'He's not just a destroyer who intercepts and upsets the rhythm of the opposition.'
Morris's comments come amid divided opinions in the football community, with pundit Gary Neville backing Caicedo as the league's best midfielder while Jamie Carragher prefers Rice's qualities.
Despite the outstanding form shown by both younger midfielders this season, Morris maintains that when fully fit, Rodri's previous achievements and consistent excellence still place him at the top of the Premier League's midfield hierarchy.
