Fri Feb 07 15:50:22 UTC 2025: ## City Include Injured Rodri in Champions League Squad, Boosting Hopes of Return

**Manchester, England** – Manchester City has included injured midfielder Rodri in their Champions League knockout stage squad, sparking optimism about his potential return from a serious knee injury this season. The Spanish international, who scored the winning goal in last year’s Champions League final, tore his ACL in September and was initially feared to be out for the season. However, he has set a return target of around April.

The UEFA deadline for squad updates was Thursday midnight, and City chose to leave out new teenage signing Vitor Reis to make room for Rodri and other new additions. This decision highlights the club’s faith in Rodri’s recovery and his importance to their Champions League campaign.

City’s inclusion of Rodri comes as they prepare for a challenging two-legged tie against Real Madrid in the round of 16, starting next Tuesday. The winner will face either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen. Manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged the importance of the upcoming matches but stressed the focus remains on their FA Cup fixture against Leyton Orient.

To bolster their midfield in Rodri’s absence, City also added midfielder Nico Gonzalez to their Champions League squad. Guardiola described Gonzalez as “really important” and highlighted the need to strengthen the position following Rodri’s injury. Forward Omar Marmoush and defender Abdukodir Khusanov were also included in the updated squad list. The Champions League quarterfinals begin April 8th, aligning with Rodri’s projected return date.

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