If West Ham United are living proof that a couple of impactful January signings can breathe fresh life into your season – see Axel Disasi – then the same can be said of Guido Rodriguez’s new employers Valencia.
Veteran Argentina international Rodriguez has made an ‘exceptional’ impression since returning to Spain with the two-time Champions League finalists on a free transfer.
The stats show that West Ham are a much better team with Axel Disasi at centre-back; both in terms of their points-per-game tally and their goals-conceded-per-game ratio.
Be honest – give us your initial grading and your current one 😂
For context, I was a C and now I am an A
Valencia, meanwhile, won only five of their first 22 La Liga matches in 2025/26. With Guido Rodriguez patrolling the midfield, Los Che have won four of their last seven.
The latest being Saturday’s 2-0 away victory over fellow sleeping giants Sevilla.
West Ham United flop Guido Rodriguez transforms Valencia
While Rodriguez came under fire for the first time during last week’s 1-0 defeat away to rock-bottom Real Oviedo, to quote Las Provincias, the former Real Betis enforcer ‘redeemed’ himself at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
“The midfield was singled out as one of the weaknesses in [head coach Carlos] Corberan’s team after the debacle in Oviedo. The Argentinian redeemed himself with a near-perfect performance, dominating the duels throughout and contributing significantly to the team’s attacking play.”
Rodriguez made nine clearances, drew four fouls, and also completed the most passes [45] of any Valencia starter in Seville.
It was easy to forget, as he spent most of his time in claret and blue chasing shadows, how highly the 2022 World Cup winner was regarded on Spanish soil the first time around.
Ex-Rayo Vallecano coach Paco Jemez called Rodriguez a ‘great player’ shortly after being appointed as Nuno’s assistant at the London Stadium. Barcelona wanted the Argentine before he joined the Hammers in 2024.
Clearly, the slower, more methodical pace of La Liga football suits him a lot better than the up-and-down hustle and bustle of the Premier League.
Where do YOU think it went wrong for Guido Rodriguez? 🇦🇷
And is letting him go the right move?
World Cup winner tipped to spark European charge at Los Che
As reported by Super Deporte, a Valencia team fearing the drop before his arrival are now being tipped for a European spot. An ambition Rodriguez himself is not shying away from.
“The most important thing is to look upwards. We’re showing that,” Rodriguez tells Movistar. “Sometimes we play better, sometimes we play worse, but we’re taking it one game at a time. These are three important points, but even more important is looking upwards.”
Valencia’s points-per-game average has shot up from 1.0 to 1.7 with Rodriguez in the XI. They are also now just six points behind Celta Vigo in the Europa Conference League positions.
“Very happy and pleased to get the three points [at Sevilla]. The win was very important, and we knew what we were there for and that we had to reverse what we had done last week,” Rodriguez adds.
“The whole team did very well. When we’re like this, all together and united, we were all focused on the same thing, and that showed on the field. We have to keep going like this.
“We have to keep working, improving, doing the things we did well and repeating them, and keep correcting things because this isn’t over, and we have to keep growing, improving, and moving forward together.”
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