Manchester City have seen Rodri suffer another injury setback, with the Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder forced off after just 20 minutes of their Premier League clash with Brentford. The Spain international was able to walk from the field, but was clearly in some discomfort and could be facing up to another spell on the sidelines after struggling to recover form and fitness on the back of a devastating ACL injury.

Thomas Frank has sensationally claimed that Tottenham star Archie Gray "has same potential" as Rodri and Declan Rice. Fifteen months after swapping Leeds United for Tottenham Hotspur in a £40 million deal, teenage prodigy Archie Gray is heading back to where it all began. The 19-year-old, once Leeds’ golden boy, has become one of Spurs’ most versatile weapons, racking up 51 appearances across defence and midfield.

Pep Guardiola was not impressed by suggestions that his Manchester City side were pegged back late on at Monaco in the Champions League due to the replacement of Rodri with Nico Gonzalez in midfield. The City boss defended the contribution Gonzalez made off the bench after coming on in the 61st minute, while he conceded that Ballon d'Or winner Rodri is not yet fit enough to play 90 minutes multiple times a week and "needs protecting" from recurring injury issues.

Pep Guardiola has confirmed Manchester City star Rodri was left out of the squad for the 5-1 win over Burnley after complaining of knee pain in the same leg where he tore his Anterior Crucial Ligament (ACL) last season. The Spaniard, who only recently returned to full fitness, is now a major doubt for City’s upcoming Champions League clash with Monaco.

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has picked Alexis Mac Allister as his favourite midfielder over Declan Rice, Enzo Fernandez and even Ryan Gravenberch, but hailed Rodri as the king of the position. Mac Allister, who moved to Anfield from Brighton in 2023, established himself as a starter first under Jurgen Klopp and then retained his place once Arne Slot took charge last season.