MANCHESTER CITY plan to name Ballon D’Or winner Rodri in their squad for the knock-out stages of the Champions League.
The Spain international was ruled out for the season after suffering a cruciate ligament injury against Arsenal in September.
But Rodri has made excellent progress in his recovery and still believes he can be back in contention before the end of the current campaign.
Boss Pep Guardiola wants to keep the door open for him to do that – even though City would have to go deep in the competition for him to be even in the frame.
That in itself looks in some doubt as they will take on either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich when in the play-off round – with the draw due to be made on Friday.
However after four months on the sidelines he is working hard towards his return.
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Earlier this week he was pictured in his training gear on the eve of his club’s win over Club Brugge in the final game of the league stage.
He also said in an interview in Spain earlier this month that he believes he can get back for his club before the end of the campaign.
Guardiola will be able to add three new players to his squad and signed Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis last week.
If they can add a new defensive midfielder or full-back to their squad before Monday’s transfer deadline, it would leave them with a dilemma.
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All clubs who have reached the knock-out stages have until Thursday February 6 to decide on their squad.
Rodri joined City in a £62million move from Atletico Madrid in 2019.
He’s since played 260 times under Guardiola, scoring 26 goals in total.
And in that time he’s won four Premier League titles, an FA Cup and a Champions League — as well as October’s Ballon d’Or.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
