Manchester City midfielder Rodri is reportedly to back on the ground and ready to face Arsenal on Sunday.
When Rodri is on the field, Manchester City tends to do well. The team has only lost once this season when he’s been playing. That one defeat came in a penalty shootout during the Community Shield final against Arsenal.
Since joining Manchester City in 2019 from Atletico Madrid for 70 million euros, Rodri has become a key player for the team.
He started off in the rotation but quickly earned a spot as a starter, proving himself to be indispensable.
This season, Rodri has played over 3,200 minutes in 45 matches. He’s one of the most used players by coach Pep Guardiola, behind Phil Foden and Kyle Walker.
Rodri is known for his vision, passing quality, and now, his goal-scoring ability.
Rodri scored the winning goal in the Champions League final against Inter Milan, helping Manchester City secure their first European title.
He was also named the best player of the 2023 Champions League season and finished fifth in the Ballon d’Or rankings.
In an interview, Rodri shared his dream of winning the Ballon d’Or and becoming the best player in the world. While he strives for this accolade, he knows that his performances on the field speak for themselves.
“We all dream of it. I would love it if a defensive midfielder like me could win it, it would mean a lot.” Rodri said.
“For football, this would be an interesting change. But I am enjoying my ranking. I can say that I am the fifth-best player in the world,” Rodri added.
During the international break, City’s defending champions faced a tough time with injuries. Both Kyle Walker and John Stones suffered leg muscle injuries while playing for England.
Unfortunately, they were not able to participate in Thursday’s training session.
Pep Guardiola confirmed that both Walker and Stones will not be able to play in the upcoming game against Arsenal. This is a big blow for the team as they prepare for one of the most important matches of the season.
