Pep Guardiola is ready to register Rodri for the Champions League knockout stages in the hope that the Ballon d’Or winner can return from his serious knee injury this season to play in the latter stages of the competition.
Rodri, 28, is recovering from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee and there were fears he would miss the entire season when he underwent surgery in September, with Manchester City plunged into freefall in his absence before Christmas.
They have recovered to reach the Champions League play-offs, where they face Real Madrid or Bayern Munich to reach the last-16, and it is understood that Rodri will be considered for re-registration on February 6 when teams are allowed to make changes to their squad.
Clubs are allowed to make three changes from the group stages, with City losing Kyle Walker due to his departure to AC Milan, while Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis have arrived at the club and can be added.
Having Rodri, currently crowned the world’s best player, in the squad would give City a huge lift as they look to get past Real or Bayern next month, then face Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16.
While Guardiola initially planned on being without Rodri for the season, the Spain midfielder suggested he could return before the end of the campaign when he spoke before Christmas.
“My target is to come back this season. I don’t give up on this season, [but] I don’t want to make any mistakes. My target is six or seven months,” Rodri told ‘The Rest Is Football’ podcast.
He was injured in September in the 2-2 draw against Arsenal and without him in the team, City went on a run of losing nine matches in 12, putting their Champions League campaign at risk before they sealed a play-off place by defeating Club Brugge on Wednesday.
Should City make it through to the latter stages, they would play in the semi-finals at the end of April and the start of May, with the final at Bayern’s Allianz Arena on May 31. Guardiola has pointed to Rodri’s absence as one of the reasons – but not the sole cause – of City’s poor form this season.
City have room in their squad to register their new signings and keep Rodri available, with first-team players Oscar Bobb and Rico Lewis young enough to be on their B List.
Mateo Kovacic has deputised for Rodri and he scored the vital equaliser against Club Brugge. City have still been looking at short-term options for the defensive-midfield role. Douglas Luiz is an option but only on a straight loan from Juventus, with the Italians wanting an obligation to buy. There are admirers or Ederson at Atalanta but he is an important part of their Champions League and Serie A campaigns.
