Manchester City can show off their stability and their manager to prospective signings, but also have more reasons to be confident
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA - JUNE 12: Rodrigo Hernandez #16 arrives at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport prior to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup on June 12, 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images)
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA - JUNE 12: Rodrigo Hernandez #16 arrives at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport prior to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup on June 12, 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images)
Rodri returns for the Club World Cup
Manchester City wasted little time in the first transfer window of the summer, bringing in four new faces to give their squad a fresh feel for the Club World Cup. As well as general optimism, there was also a consensus that the Blues seem to have achieved good prices for their targets - especially against what they could have paid for Florian Wirtz.
There are any number of reasons for players wanting to sign for City, but the main two have been stability and Pep Guardiola. Who wouldn't want to work with one of the best managers there has ever been, and at a club which - pending charges obviously - is the definition of stability at an elite level, competing for the league and Champions League every season on top of domestic cups.
Those both obviously still apply, although Guardiola's future can be used against City. There were reports that Wirtz was reluctant to commit to the Blues while the coach only has two years remaining on his current deal and could potentially leave sooner (he's not expected to but there could be a tempting offer before the World Cup next summer).
As he himself has said, he is naturally closer to leaving and has achieved everything he wanted to, so there is reason to see Guardiola as coming down the mountain. City need to show they are climbing fresh ones if they are still to attract the best talent.
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That's where they have had a helping hand from Rodri, the best midfielder in the world whose stock only rose in his injury-enforced absence last season. As he works his way back to his peak, nobody will be able to take away from the Spaniard that he has been crowned as the best player in the world.
Somebody with no social media, whose job on the pitch is to be as anonymous as possible, playing for City up against the might of the Real Madrid machine and their Brazilian forward in what is as much about popularity and reputation as it is ability - yet it was Rodri who was crowned.
City can now tell players that if they want to win the Ballon d'Or they can do it at the Etihad because there is living, breathing proof.
So when Rayan Cherki says he thinks he can win the Ballon d'Or at City, it is because Rodri is there. Like Ange Postecoglou memorably said about trophies, he doesn't have to imagine them being lifted.
City will continue to hope that stability and Guardiola can be their big selling points for transfer targets, already feeling fortunate to have had their manager for as long as they have. Rodri's milestone has been priceless in helping to sell the club though as they continue to look for the best talents to improve their team.
If the players looking to win the Ballon d'Or know they can do it at City, it certainly helps to keep improving Guardiola's squad.
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