Rodri form is giving Blues deal dilemma

THERE have been a flurry of new contracts given out at City in the last couple of months, but perhaps the hardest decision facing Pep Guardiola and director of football Hugo Viana is what to do with Rodri.

- By TYRONE MARSHALL

Rodri after suffering his ACL injury during a game against Arsenal last season

A week ago, the 29-year-old looked to be making good progress on his return from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, starting four games in a row and completing 90 minutes in the first and last of them.

But then came the final training session on Friday before City faced Burnley and the Spain midfielder told Guardiola that he was 'in a lot of pain' in his knee and wasn't fit enough to face the Clarets. Concerningly, it was the same knee he injured in September 2024.

That injury was a year ago now and although the recovery process from such a serious knee injury can always be complicated, alarm bells will be ringing at the Etihad.