Huge boost for Man City! Ballon d'Or winner Rodri included in Champions League squad ahead of showdown with Real Madrid as new £29.5m January signing left out by Pep Guardiola

Rodri suffered a serious knee injury in City's 2-2 draw against Arsenal in September, tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Following successful surgery, initial reports suggested he would miss the remainder of the season. However, the midfielder has been working hard to accelerate his recovery, expressing a strong desire to return sooner than expected.

According to The Independent,despite his ongoing rehabilitation, Guardiola has opted to include Rodri in the European squad, allowing him to feature if City advance to the latter stages of the tournament. City secured their place in the Champions League play-offs after a dramatic comeback victory over Club Brugge on the final matchday of the league phase. Now, they are gearing up for a blockbuster clash against Real Madrid, a fixture that has become one of Europe’s most thrilling rivalries in recent years.

UEFA regulations allowed clubs to register up to three additional players for the second half of the season. However, City faced a dilemma, having signed four new players in the January window for a combined £170 million. This meant that Reis, the 19-year-old Brazilian defender, was the unfortunate player to miss out in favour of Uzbekistan international Abbosbek Khusanov.

Rodri remains committed to his rehabilitation process, with the hope of returning in time to contribute to City’s season finale. His presence would be a significant boost for Guardiola’s squad, given his role as a key orchestrator in midfield. In the short term, City will have to do without his services when they return to domestic action, in an FA Cup fourth-round tie against Leyton Orient on Saturday.