Rodri’s Replacement? Samuele Ricci Reacts to Manchester City Links
As Manchester City gears up for the January transfer window, speculation surrounding the club’s potential move for a defensive midfielder has intensified. With Rodri sidelined for the remainder of the season due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus injury sustained in a dramatic 2-2 draw against Arsenal, the Premier League champions are reportedly eyeing Torino midfielder Samuele Ricci as a potential replacement.
Rodri’s injury, confirmed after surgery in Spain, leaves Pep Guardiola with a gap in his midfield as the team remains in contention for major trophies across multiple competitions. While Guardiola has experimented with makeshift solutions, the club’s recruitment team is rumored to be exploring market options, including Ricci, to strengthen the defensive midfield position.
Torino’s director of football, Davide Vagnati, recently addressed the swirling rumors regarding Manchester City’s interest in the 23-year-old Italian. While he avoided directly confirming any potential negotiations, Vagnati expressed his pride in Ricci’s development since joining Torino.
“I won’t comment on Manchester City,” Vagnati told reporters over the weekend. “What I can say is that we signed Ricci when he was very young, and it was an important investment. We and the President believed in him and spent big money for this player. He believed in his work, has improved a great deal physically, he already had the vision, and I think he is capable of playing for any coach or club.”
Ricci himself, addressing the rumors, maintained a level-headed approach to the speculation surrounding his future. “I took a while to understand, but now I realise that in the football world, as soon as you start doing well, all sorts of rumors start coming out,” Ricci remarked.
He added, “Look, it’s pleasing, but one mustn’t get big-headed. I know that there are still many areas where I need to improve. I see them, my friends send me articles sometimes, but I prefer to focus on something certain like what happens on the pitch.”
Manchester City also has other midfield options currently out on loan, including Kalvin Phillips at Ipswich Town and Maximo Perrone at FC Como, but reports suggest these players are unlikely to be recalled to fill Rodri’s absence.
Rodri’s Replacement? Samuele Ricci Reacts to Manchester City Links
