According to reports, Pep Guardiola is ready to make a surprise addition to his Manchester City roster for the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds. With a 3-1 comeback victory against Club Brugge on Wednesday night, Manchester City advanced to the last-16 play-offs, snagging a spot in the top-24 and setting up an exciting two-leg battle in February.
City already knows that Friday's draw this week will put them in a last-16 playoff matchup against either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, with the first leg to be held at the Etihad Stadium, after the new structure is finalized.
Manchester City made three new additions during the January transfer window so far, but they were unable to show off their new players in their last two league phase games since the competition's first stage roster list was finalized last summer.
Pep Guardiola and Manchester City, however, are reportedly willing to make several adjustments, including the insertion of a much-needed face in the middle of the field, as a fresh submission to UEFA looms ahead of the knockout rounds.
In the hopes that the midfield player can return this season to play for Manchester City in the final rounds of the competition, Guardiola is reportedly prepared to sign Rodri for the UEFA Champions League knockout stages.
Rodri has begun to get back into Manchester City's matchday routines
According to the reports, teams are permitted to make three roster changes from the league phase. City lost Kyle Walker to AC Milan on loan, and they also added Vitor Reis, Omar Marmoush, and Abdukodir Khusanov during the transfer window.
In recent weeks, Rodri has begun to get back into Manchester City's matchday routines, demonstrating the team's hope that a comeback this season is feasible despite the thought that his season was gone due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Despite not being on the matchday squad list, the Ballon d'Or winner travelled to Paris last week with the team and watched from the sidelines during training sessions. On matchdays, the team arrives at Etihad Stadium with the rest of the team.