30 December 2023 , 10:30
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Manchester City are set to welcome back star striker Erling Haaland and midfield maestro Kevin de Bruyne in the New Year in what will provide a major boost to their season.
The pair were crucial as Pep Guardiola's side won a historic Treble, with Haaland scoring 52 goals in 53 games and De Bruyne making 41 goal contributions in 49 games. However, Haaland has missed City's last six games with a bone stress reaction in his foot, while De Bruyne has been sidelined for months after suffering a hamstring injury in the opening game of the season against Burnley in August.
Although the absences of both players have had an effect on City, who currently sit fourth in the league after winning just two of their last seven games, it is holding midfielder Rodri who will be their most important player in 2024.
The Spaniard has established himself as a crucial cog in the City juggernaut since joining from Atletico Madrid in 2019 and, quite simply, there is nobody in the squad capable of stepping into his shoes following the departure of Ilkay Gundogan.
Rodri's importance to Guardiola's side is underlined by the fact that City's three league defeats this season have all come when the 27-year-old has been absent due to a suspension. Kalvin Phillips is perhaps the most natural replacement for Rodri in the squad, but he did not start any of those games and he is expected to leave in January with it clear Guardiola does not fancy him.
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Rodri, however, is regarded as the best holding midfielder in the world by his manager and his ability to break up play and dictate the tempo of games is invaluable to City. "Right now, yeah, he is the best," Guardiola said of Rodri in September.
"Hopefully he can be better and improve but he is an extraordinary holding midfielder. We were lucky the club signed this player and when he arrived he was not this type of player. Of course, he plays an amount of games and now he is one of the captains.
City boss Pep Guardiola believes Rodri is the best holding midfielder in the world (Manchester City FC via Getty Ima)"He is a top-class player. Defensively, offensively he reads the play and spaces and knows exactly where men are free. Close to the box he is so dangerous. He loves to arrive in the final third and dribble and shoot. He is playing really, really well."
It is no surprise columnist Robbie Savage named Rodri his player of 2023, highlighting the fact that City are "almost unbeatable when he's playing" and his knack for popping up with important goals - most notably the winner in the Champions League final.
And if City are to enjoy a 2024 that brings as much success as 2023 did, then Rodri will once again have a major role to play.