Guardiola Identifies £37m Replacement for Rodri as Man City End Pursuit of Barcelona Star
Reports indicate that Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City, has set his sights on Hakan Calhanoglu as a potential replacement for Rodri during the January transfer window.
The reigning Premier League champions started the season strongly under Guardiola, winning seven of their first nine matches. However, the team’s momentum has faltered recently, with back-to-back losses in the league attributed to the absence of Rodri, a key figure in their midfield.
Rodri, who was crowned Ballon d’Or winner at the end of October, sustained a severe knee injury on September 22 in a match against Arsenal. Diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, he has been sidelined for the remainder of the season.
To fill the void, Guardiola has reportedly identified Inter Milan’s Calhanoglu as the ideal candidate. The Turkish midfielder is praised for his exceptional vision, precise passing, and long-range shooting ability—attributes reminiscent of Rodri’s contributions during crucial moments.
Manchester City are said to be preparing a €45 million (£37 million) offer to secure Calhanoglu in January. While Inter are reportedly reluctant to part ways with the 30-year-old, they may be willing to negotiate given the substantial financial incentive. Guardiola is reportedly confident that Calhanoglu can quickly adapt to City’s playing style despite the differences between the Premier League and Serie A.
Meanwhile, Guardiola has reportedly halted interest in Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong, citing dissatisfaction with the Dutch midfielder’s recent performances. The club has allegedly “completely lost interest” in pursuing him.
City’s struggles without Rodri were further highlighted in their 2-1 loss to Brighton over the weekend. Former Liverpool and Tottenham midfielder Jamie Redknapp criticized City’s performance in the second half, describing it as one of the poorest displays from a Guardiola-managed side.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Redknapp remarked, “In the second half, City didn’t defend, failed to win individual battles, and lacked forward momentum. It was a complete contrast to the first half, where they could have been 3-0 ahead. Once Brighton’s substitutions took effect, there was no coming back for City. They lacked the character and composure to turn things around.”
The January transfer window now looms as a crucial period for Guardiola to bolster his squad and maintain City’s title defense amidst ongoing challenges.
