Guardiola will be out with a key player for at least a couple of weeksplaceholder image
Guardiola will be out with a key player for at least a couple of weeks | Getty Images
Man City are heading in the right direction but the uncertainty over Rodri’s future has seen interest in his services intensify.
Pep Guardiola is doing what he has never done before with Manchester City.
A lazy accusation thrown at the former Barcelona boss is that he has cherry-picked his clubs, that he has inherited squads with big-name stars and then spent even more to make them the best in the league. At every club he has left after sustained periods of success and with them in a better position than he found them.
Spanish giants circle for Rodri
Having been at City for a decade, there was always going to come a point where Guardiola had to make tough decisions, to let those who had delivered so much success leave. At one point, Ederson and Kevin de Bruyne could claim to be the best in the world in their position, but it is a new cycle and a new generation at the Etihad and Father Time waits for no man.
There was never any question about their quality as players which is a sentiment that currently applies to Rodri who, has struggled with his fitness since recovering from anterior cruciate ligament surgery. This hasn’t stopped two of Europe’s biggest clubs sniffing about with less than 18-months on the Ballon d’Or winner’s contract.
According to transfer journalist Graeme Bailey via TEAMtalk, Rodri is still a wanted man at City: “Sporting director Hugo Viana has Rodri’s future firmly in his plans, and despite the talks being put on hold, sources confirm there has been, and remains, constant contact between the two parties. Sources close to both City and the player insist that a delay in talks has nothing to do with interest from elsewhere, and with the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and the Saudi Pro League, constantly linked with the 59-times capped Spain midfielder.
“We are also told by Rodri’s camp that his future is not directly related to that of boss Pep Guardiola, although Spanish sources believe this could very well be the case.”
Why Guardiola might not let Rodri go
Guardiola has shown with players like De Bruyne and others like Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero, that he won’t let sentiment get in the way of a footballing decision although his love of Rodri might make giving the Spaniard’s departure the green light a little more difficult, via ESPN: "He [Rodri] changed the game," Guardiola told reporters after Rodri came off the bench in the draw with Sunderland. "He proved in 45 minutes that he is the best in his position.
"Football is about the players -- in the buildup we struggled and with Rodri we struggled less. He broke the lines, we moved better and one year and a half without him we missed him a lot. Hopefully he can stay fit because he makes us a better team."
There is a reason why Rodri won the Ballon d’Or from a position that is far from glamorous. His very presence allows others to do what they are good at and he is the best in the business at linking the defence to the forward line. It is also a position where time is on his side with pace being low down the list of priorities needed for a deep-lying playmaker. A return to warmer climes could be what the 29-year old wants, but a new contract is still fully deserved given how important he remains to City’s chances of returning to the top of English and European football.
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