.
Pep Guardiola called for a mid-season overhaul and his team’s transfer department delivered. Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Reis and Nico Gonzalez arrived for a combined £180m – more than half of the Premier League’s total winter spend and roughly 11% of the global outlay last month.
However, there is a downside to such an extensive recruitment policy. Champions League regulations ensure that, ahead of the knockout stages, only three changes can be made to the squad submitted before the league phase back in September.
As City boast four new arrivals, one was always going to miss out – and it just so happens to be Reis. Unlike the club’s other recruits, the 19-year-old Brazilian has no experience of European football – in fact, he has mustered less than 2,000 minutes of senior action in any competition. As Guardiola warned: “Vitor Reis is young, has a huge personality but needs time.”
Rodri also needs time – but for very different reasons. The reigning Ballon d’Or holder has been sidelined with an ACL injury since September and was ruled out for the rest of the season by Guardiola last year. Rodri, however, is working to a different timeline.
The ambitious 28-year-old has repeatedly expressed his desire to be back on the pitch before the end of the current campaign – which would represent near unprecedented levels of recovery.
Before City can plot for any stage of the Champions League with Rodri involved, they must first find a way past Real Madrid in the inaugural knockout play-off round. The first leg of this almighty clash will be staged at the Etihad on Tuesday before the return fixture at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, 19 February.
Read More
