New Manchester City signing Tijjani Reijnders is determined to prove his worth and impress Pep Guardiola, as he is willing to play anywhere in the midfield. Guardiola could make use of the Dutch international's versatility in the absence of Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, who suffered a fresh injury during the Club World Cup after recovering from his ACL setback.
Reijnders ready to impress GuardiolaCan take Rodri's place deep in the midfielderMan City face Palermo on SaturdayFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
With Rodri missing the majority of the 2024-25 campaign after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament, City struggled in the Premier League and eventually finished third and ended up without a single trophy. Rodri, who returned to action in the Club World Cup, suffered a fresh injury setback and has now been ruled out of action until the September international break, as confirmed by City boss Guardiola.
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Amid concerns over Rodri's absence from the squad in the first month of the new season, Reijnders has assured Guardiola that he is ready to fit into any role the manager assigns to him. The Duthman joined the Cityzens from AC Milan earlier this summer for a reported fee of €57.7 million (£50m/$68m).
WHAT REIJNDERS SAID
Speaking to reporters, the 27-year-old said: "In the Club World Cup, I played three roles in the midfield and I want to be a midfielder who can play in all of those roles. I want to play where the manager wants me to play, I will play and I will do my best, of course."
On his experience of working under Guardiola during the pre-season, the midfielder added: "We’ve worked a lot on ball possession and what we can do against teams who are, for example, in a really low block. Also, the reaction of when we lose the ball how quickly can we get it back. In the Club World Cup we played some matches together and now in training we have got to know each other a little better. “I can see, of course, that he has a lot of qualities and that makes it easier for the rest of us midfielders to play alongside him."
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER CITY?
Guardiola's men will play their final pre-season friendly against sister club Palermo on Saturday before they begin their journey in the Premier League on August 16 against Wolves.
