Manchester City eye €80 million-rated midfielder after injury to Rodri - Reports 

Manchester City suffered a major setback in their recent game against Arsenal when star midfielder Rodri sustained a serious injury that is expected to sideline him for an extended period. As a result, the Premier League champions are likely to be on the lookout for a replacement, with Nicolo Barella reportedly a player of interest, according to reports.

City began the game against the Gunners strongly, with Erling Haaland putting them ahead in the ninth minute. However, things took a turn for the worse after Rodri went down clutching his knee following a collision with Thomas Partey during a set-piece situation.

Initial assessments confirmed it was a knee injury, and multiple reports have since confirmed that the Spaniard has ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament, ruling him out for several months.

This leaves City somewhat short, not only in terms of numbers but also in midfield quality. A report from InterLive suggests that Pep Guardiola is a big admirer of Nicolo Barella, and Manchester City could potentially make a move for the Italian midfielder next summer.

Guardiola reportedly views Barella as a masterful technician whose ability with the ball and experience at the highest level could be invaluable.

However, the 27-year-old’s contract with Inter Milan runs until 2029, meaning the Italian club could demand a fee of around €80 million if an offer is made. The report also mentions that Real Madrid and PSG are interested, but Guardiola’s Manchester City are currently in pole position.

Former Inter defender Marco Materazzi (via Football Italia) had even hinted that Barella is a player Guardiola has wanted to sign for some time. Given his quality, it’s no surprise that City could be keen to join the race for the 27-year-old, who has already earned 57 caps for Italy and played a key role in their Euro 2020 triumph.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola provides update on Rodri’s injury

Since the injury, there have been several conflicting reports regarding the severity of Rodri’s condition. After City’s 2-1 victory over Watford in the EFL Cup, Guardiola himself admitted he was uncertain about the full extent of the injury.

However, he did confirm that the midfielder will be sidelined for several months, which is a significant blow to the club’s aspirations this season.

"Still we don’t have the definitive [diagnosis] but he will be out for a long time - a while. But there are some opinions that maybe it will be less than we expected. One doctor says big, big injury, one not as much. We are waiting for the last phone calls from him and the doctors for what definitely he has and the type of surgery he has to get. We expect that tonight, tomorrow we will know exactly," he said. (via BBC)

At the start of the season, Manchester City deployed Mateo Kovacic in Rodri’s position, while they could also potentially utilize Ilkay Gundogan. Additionally, John Stones and Matheus Nunes are two more options available to the Spaniard in Rodri’s absence.