Rodriguez (1.91 meters, 31 years old) earned EuroLeague MVP honors in the 2013-14 season, averaging 14 points and 4.9 assists in 31 games. He arrives from Philadelphia of the NBA, where he averaged 7.8 points and 5.1 assists in 68 games last season. He started his career with Spanish side Estudiantes and also played for Portland, Sacramento and New York of the NBA before joining Real Madrid before the start of the 2010-11 season. In his six seasons with Madrid, Rodriguez led his team to four Final Four appearances in 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015, playing three consecutive finals and lifting the trophy in 2015 — the club's first EuroLeague crown in 20 years. He also helped Madrid win three Spanish League and four Spanish Copa del Rey titles, as well as lifting the Intercontinental Cup trophy in 2015. Rodriguez has also been very successful with the Spanish national team, helping it win respective gold medals at the 2006 FIBA World Cup and EuroBasket 2015. He also won two Olympic medals — silver in 2012, bronze in 2016 -, as well as getting a silver one at EuroBasket 2007 and another bronze at EuroBasket 2013. Rodriguez also led the Spanish U18 national team to a gold medal at the 2004 European Championships, earning MVP honors. In 163 EuroLeague career games with Estudiantes and Madrid, Rodriguez has accumulated 1,574 points and 756 assists, ranking 10th overall in that category. He also ranks fourth all-time in assists per 40 minutes (8.95). "El Chacho" is now set to continue his outstanding career in the Russian capital.

"I am very happy and excited for this new stage in my life. Playing for an important team like CSKA is a big challenge," Rodriguez said after the agreement. "A challenge so important in my career that I take it with a lot of eagerness. I will go to Moscow and give it all to compete for all the titles that we will play for. It will be a great personal experience to live in Moscow with my family, and get to know its culture."