Manchester City find themselves in a precarious situation following a severe knee injury to their midfield linchpin, Rodri. The Spanish midfielder suffered a ligament tear in his right knee during the recent Premier League clash against Arsenal, dealing a significant blow to Pep Guardiola’s squad.
Calciomercato report that the extent of Rodri’s injury was confirmed by an official statement from Manchester City, revealing that he has traveled to Spain for a specialist consultation. The club is still assessing the full extent of the damage and the expected recovery time.
Rodri’s absence creates a massive void in City’s tactical setup. The Spanish international, a contender for the Ballon d’Or, has been the fulcrum of Guardiola’s offensive and defensive strategies. Statistics underscore his importance: with Rodri on the field, City averaged 2.3 points per match with a 74% win rate. Without him, these numbers drop to 1.9 points and a 62% win rate, with losses occurring in one out of every three games.
As the January transfer window approaches, Manchester City is exploring options to reinforce their midfield. Among the top targets is Nicolò Barella from Inter Milan. Guardiola has shown interest in the Italian midfielder since the Champions League final in Istanbul. However, prizing Barella away from Inter would be a challenging task, as he is considered indispensable and has a contract until 2029. It would likely take an offer exceeding €70 million for Inter to even consider negotiations.
Other names on City’s shortlist include Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, who is also being pursued by Liverpool and Arsenal. City is reportedly ready to trigger his €60 million release clause. Additionally, Ederson from Atalanta and Adam Wharton, a young talent from Crystal Palace, are being considered as potential alternatives.
The January transfer window will be crucial for Manchester City as they seek to fill the void left by Rodri’s absence. The club’s ability to secure a suitable replacement could play a pivotal role in their pursuit of silverware this season.
