Manchester City are now lining up a move for a Xabi Alonso-esque midfielder as a successor for Rodri, with Pep Guardiola personally keen.
Guardiola identifies replacement for Rodri
Rodri missed the majority of the 2024-25 season due to an ACL injury, but Paul Scholes has recently named him the second-best midfielder in the world, despite not quite reaching his previous level just yet.
Scholes said (56:30): “He’s not started well this season but he’s had that horrific injury. He was by far the best midfielder that year, which is why he won the Ballon d’Or, he controlled everything, and I feel that’s probably why City are struggling a little bit at this minute to keep the ball, because he’s not quite up to speed physically yet.”
It remains to be seen whether the Spaniard is able to get back to his best, but he certainly has plenty of time on his side, given that he only turned 29 in June.
However, according to a report from SportsBoom, Guardiola has now personally identified Bayern Munich midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic as a long-term successor to Rodri, as the City boss believes he has the personality and pedigree to replace the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner.
City possess the financial power to lure Bayern to the negotiating table, and given that the midfielder is just 21-years-old, it is reported that even a ‘huge’ transfer fee could be a ‘sensible investment’.
At the moment, Rodri remains a key player for Guardiola, but the manager is planning for the future, amid interest from Real Madrid back in the summer, and Pavlovic’s ability in possession of the ball could make him an ideal option.
Pavlovic beginning to prove himself at Bayern Munich
The German has featured relatively sporadically for Bayern across the previous two campaigns, but this season he has been a major part of Vincent Kompany’s plans, featuring in all four Bundesliga games and scoring in the 5-0 win against Hamburg.
However, much like Rodri, goal-scoring isn’t the starlet’s main strength, with scout Jacek Kulig previously describing him as a “deep-lying orchestrator”, who is “similar” to Alonso and Michael Carrick.
The £30k-a-week Bayern maestro’s ability in possession means he is a similar type of player to Rodri too, averaging a whopping 96.85 passes per 90 over the past year, while also placing in the 98th percentile for his pass-completion rate, when compared to other midfielders.
Pavlovic could be the perfect long-term replacement for Rodri, but the Spain international should still have a number of years left at the top level, after overcoming his ACL injury.
