The Ballon d’Or winning midfielder is still missing but Pep Guardiola is not short of options and needs to make one of them stick
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n the 14 months since Rodri sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium, the midfielder has played only 588 minutes for Manchester City due to a series of setbacks, the last of which excluded him from Wednesday’s 4-1 win against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. While Pep Guardiola says “he will not be out for a while”, the 29-year-old is fundamental to the manager’s vision of the game. His alternatives are assessed …
“The first option when Rodri cannot play is absolutely Nico. Nico is making steps forward,” Guardiola said before Sunday’s 3-1 win against Bournemouth. At 6ft 2in and 23 when signed for £49.8m from Porto earlier this year, González is a near carbon copy of Rodri. Indeed, Guardiola described the former Barcelona player as a “mini-Rodri” last season, yet against Bournemouth there were times when he was caught and dispossessed in midfield in a way Rodri, at his very best, would not be. There is scant shame, however, in not being in the same class as the Ballon d’Or winner.
The long-term loss of City’s sole other holding midfielder to an ankle problem will be a test for City should González also collect an injury during Rodri’s absence. Kovacic has impressed regularly for City since joining the club from Chelsea for £25m in June 2023 and has a CV that makes clear he is a stellar talent. The Croatian’s former clubs include Dinamo Zagreb, Inter and Real Madrid. He also has a glut of honours to his name, including one La Liga title, one Premier League title and four Champions League winner’s medals.
