Rodri, from Manchester City, says he does not want to face Brazilian teams in the Club World Cup
The Spanish midfielder praised the level of Brazilian clubs and hopes to avoid them in the knockout stages.
As Manchester City prepare to face Juventus this Thursday (June 26) in the final round of the Club World Cup group stage, Rodri has drawn attention with a statement that reflects the growing respect for Brazilian clubs in the tournament.
In the mixed zone before City’s decisive clash, the midfielder was clear: he would rather not face any Brazilian side in the next round.
“Brazilian Teams Are on Another Level”
So far, four Brazilian clubs have booked their spots in the round of 16:
- Flamengo will play against Bayern Munich
- Palmeiras will face Botafogo in an all-Brazilian clash
- Fluminense will take on Inter Milan
Rodri commented on the impressive performance of these teams:
“We know how powerful South America is, especially Brazil. The Brazilian teams are doing very well, they are surprising not only with their performance, but also with their results.”
He didn’t hesitate to emphasize how difficult it would be to play against them:
“You can see the rhythm. It’s the end of our season, but the quality of their players is very high. Honestly, I don’t think anyone wants to face the Brazilians.”
Rodri Returns from Injury
Rodri is gradually returning to peak form after suffering a serious knee injury last year a ruptured ACL sustained on September 22, in a Premier League match against Arsenal. After months of recovery, he returned to the pitch in City’s 2-0 win over Wydad Casablanca, playing limited minutes.
Guardiola Monitoring Rodri’s Recovery
City manager Pep Guardiola has stated that Rodri’s minutes are being carefully managed. While the player has expressed his desire to play more, Guardiola emphasized that contact situations and physical duels are still being monitored closely.
Despite the cautious approach, Rodri remains confident and motivated:
“I was very excited to return and be with the team. Winning the Club World Cup is the goal,” he said.
What’s Next for Manchester City?
Manchester City and Juventus go head-to-head on June 26 at 4 PM (Brasília time) in Orlando, USA, to determine the leader of Group G. The outcome of this match will decide which side of the bracket Pep Guardiola’s men will land on and whether they’ll avoid or face a Brazilian team in the quarterfinals.
