He may not have the same media buzz as some of England’s other top young talents, but it is no secret that Adam Wharton is being closely watched both in England and in Europe. According to the latest reports, Pep Guardiola sees the Crystal Palace midfielder as Rodri’s natural replacement if the Spanish international were to leave the club, with Real Madrid as his most likely destination. Although nothing is official yet, far from it, his profile fits the Spanish coach’s footballing philosophy: young, polished on the ball, intelligent in the way he reads the game, and already battle-tested at the highest level of English football.
From Blackburn to the English elite at breakneck speed
Wharton, 22, came through the Blackburn Rovers system and broke into the first team in 2022. After two seasons with the club he had been with all his life, Crystal Palace handed him a five-and-a-half-year contract during the 2024 winter transfer window as an investment for both the present and the future. The deal, completed for a £22 million fee, was for a player who was already making a big impression on the Highbet gambling platform.
Even then, Crystal Palace already described him as a player confident on the ball, aggressive without it, and willing to take risks when needed. His intelligence and creativity have allowed him to make a rapid impact in the Premier League, and attract the attention of many clubs in England, as well as some of the biggest sides in Europe’s top leagues.
His impact at Palace was immediate. He made his debut against Brighton and was part of the starting XI in the remaining 15 league matches of that season. In a very short time, he had become a key part of Oliver Glasner’s midfield and ended up being included in England’s squad for Euro 2024. In just five months, he went from playing in the Championship to being part of the group that reached the final of Europe’s biggest international tournament.
What Guardiola sees in Wharton
The question is clear: why is he being viewed as Rodri’s possible replacement? The answer lies in the type of midfielder he is. The player himself has mentioned Frenkie de Jong and Rodri as role models of the style of play he wants to pursue. That is a very important detail, because it helps explain the kind of holding midfielder he wants to become: one who receives under pressure, gives meaning to the team’s initial build-up, has the patience to organize the side, and above all, does not disappear when the game gets ugly.
This season’s numbers reinforce that idea. So far: 30 appearances, 2,380 minutes, 1,149 passes attempted, 903 completed, 30 chances created, 147 recoveries, 24 interceptions, and 36 tackles won. Those are the numbers of a deep-lying playmaker who is heavily involved, sees a lot of the ball, and also puts in serious defensive work. That balance between composure, awareness, and aggression is what turns a midfielder into much more than just a technical talent.
That’s why, at least in theory, his fit with Guardiola’s football makes total sense. If Rodri does end up leaving the club this summer, City would need someone capable of providing clean build-up play, understanding pressing lines, and maintaining order when the team dominates possession. Wharton does not yet have the Spaniard’s authority or the same structural importance, but he does have traits that make him highly appealing to a coach obsessed with controlling the middle of the pitch. Besides, the stature and influence of the former Atlético de Madrid and Villarreal player can be developed over time with more experience.
Precisely, his room for growth makes him an even more interesting player. In England, he is regarded as an intelligent and creative midfielder, capable of taking risks and already good enough to earn a place in the national team setup.
The obstacle: replacing Rodri is not about signing talent; it is about replacing a structure
The issue with this whole story is that Rodri is the kind of player who gives meaning to an entire team’s style of play. That’s why Wharton would only come into the equation if the Spanish midfielder were to leave the club. He would not be an exact copy, but rather a coherent choice to rebuild the foundation of the team’s play without breaking its footballing identity.
Even so, there is one part of the operation that is not being fully taken into account: his link to Crystal Palace. The player is tied down on a long-term deal and is one of the club’s sporting reference points. He is not a player in decline nor just another squad member; he is a key asset for a club that is still competing and has no need to sell. And with the Premier League’s homegrown player rules, a talented English player is an especially valuable asset.
Still, the rumor makes sense. Wharton has shown that he can speed up his adaptation to bigger stages, come back from injuries, and return just as important as before, to the point of being part of the team that won the FA Cup in 2025, the first major title in Palace’s history. His path does not guarantee that he will become the new Rodri, but it does explain why Guardiola sees him as more than just a promising player with good feet.