Manchester City have finalized their Champions League squad for the knockout stages, with a key inclusion and a notable omission.
Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has been included despite an ongoing ACL injury, while £29.5 million January signing Vitor Reis has been left out.
City face Real Madrid in the playoff round next week, marking the fourth consecutive season these two European giants have clashed in the competition.
Manager Pep Guardiola will be hoping his squad additions can make the difference this time around.
New signings Omar Marmoush, Adbukodir Khusanov, and Nico Gonzalez have all been included in the squad.
Marmoush, an Egyptian forward, has already made two appearances for City, while Khusanov and Gonzalez will be looking to make their mark on the European stage.
Gonzalez, a £50 million deadline day signing from Porto, brings valuable Champions League experience.
The biggest news, however, revolves around Rodri. The influential midfielder suffered an ACL injury in September and was initially feared to be out for the season.
His inclusion in the squad suggests City are optimistic he can play a part in the latter stages of the tournament should they progress. Guardiola remains cautious about Rodri’s return, stating that “an ACL is an ACL” and that “recovery needs its own time.”
Meanwhile, 19-year-old Brazilian defender Vitor Reis will have to wait for his Champions League debut.
Despite arriving from Palmeiras in January for a hefty fee, Reis is yet to feature for City. The club see him as a player for the future and are currently focused on his development.
Full Man City Champions League Squad:
- Goalkeepers: Ederson, Ortega, Carson
- Defenders: Lewis, Alleyne, Khusanov, Akanji, Dias, Stones, Ake, Gvardiol
- Midfielders: Rodri, Kovacic, Gonzalez, Gundogan, Silva, Foden, De Bruyne, O’Reilly, McAtee, Nunes
- Forwards: Grealish, Doku, Savinho, Marmoush, Bobb, Haaland
Bobb, Alleyne, Lewis and O’Reilly named as Under-21 B-List players
