MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 26: Josep 'Pep' Guardiola, manager of Manchester City, looks dejected during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between Manchester City and Feyenoord at City of Manchester Stadium on November 26, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Pep Guardiola has been forced back to the drawing board with his January transfer plans
Manchester City have been told that potential Rodri replacement Samuele Ricci is not for sale.
Rodri has been ruled out for the duration of the season after rupturing his ACL in September's draw with Arsenal. Without the influential midfielder, City have struggled badly.
They had failed to win any of their six games heading into Sunday's clash with Liverpool. They have been left trailing the Reds in the Premier League title race and were even in fifth place following Arsenal's win over West Ham and Chelsea's defeat of Aston Villa.
Many of their issues have been traced back to the absence of Rodri from midfield. They have been tipped to rectify that issue in the January transfer market, though Pep Guardiola has suffered an early blow to those hopes.
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According to Calciomercato, Guardiola had set his sights on Torino star Ricci. It is said the Italian arouses 'great interest', particularly from City who have been eyeing the 23-year-old for several weeks.
Ricci is expected to secure a move to a top team in the near future, though Torino have endured a mixed season. They currently sit 12th in Serie A and while selling a star player may bring in much needed funds, it is also seen as being 'counterproductive'.
As a result chiefs at the Italian club have 'no intention' of selling Ricci until the end of the season. That message has been made 'loud and clear' to Ricci's suitors, including City, who will now have to go back to the drawing board.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Do Manchester City need to find a replacement for Rodri? Comment below.
Turin, Italy - November 24: Samuele Ricci of Torino Fc controls the ball during the Serie A match between Torino and Monza at Olimpico on November 24, 2024 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by sportinfoto/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Samuele Ricci had been a top target to replace Rodri but Torino are refusing to sell
With Ricci off the table, Guardiola will have to find a different player to take the place of Rodri. The Spaniard is not expected to return before the summer, with City needing reinforcements quickly.
Guardiola has refused to blame his side's poor run of form on Rodri's injury. And before travelling for the clash with Liverpool, he urged his side to keep their composure and take one game at a time.
"It's not an excuse that Rodri is not there. What are we going to do, cry all the time that Rodri is not there? I have to find a solution, and I’m trying every day," the City boss said.
"It's not nice to live, of course it's not nice, but what do you expect? That everything will be a red carpet? That everything is nice and easy?. Now I have to prove myself. We cannot forget that, three months ago, we were Premier League champions.
"We made the FA Cup final and the quarter-finals of the Champions League. It’s not about playing good or playing bad, it’s about winning games. We won the Treble and four titles in a row."
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