European Leagues

Rodri: Why Real Madrid Can’t Have My Respect

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has said that he “cannot respect the decision” of Real Madrid to completely boycott the Ballon d’Or ceremony.

The Spaniard, who received the prestigious award, had been tipped as one of the favourites for the top prize, but Real forward Vinicius Junior had also been in contention, with many Madrid representatives expecting the Brazilian’s coronation to be a formality.

Instead, the Spanish giants decided not to show at the ceremony in Paris, with many believing that Vinicius not winning the showpiece award was the reason behind it.
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Rodri, who played a crucial role in Manchester City’s fourth Premier League title in a row and Spain’s Euro 2024 glory, has been ruled out for what seems to be the remainder of the season after he suffered an anterior-cruciate ligament injury in City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal earlier this term.

“I cannot respect the decision,” Rodri said of Madrid’s no-show on The Rest is Football podcast.

“In sport and in life, it’s important to win. But I think even more how to lose, and I say always the same – it was my moment, I didn’t want to speak about others.

“They didn’t want to be there – I want to be with my club, with my family, the people that were there and clapped me, and that was a fantastic moment.

“I have lived the best and worst part of my career with the Ballon d’Or and then injury, but it gives me oxygen to come back again in a good way,” he said.

“I can’t describe the emotion [of winning it]. In my generation, [we] only see two guys winning the trophy [Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo].”

Rodri, who scored the winner in City’s maiden UEFA Champions League triumph against Inter Milan in 2023, has said that he is aiming to beat the clock and return to action before the end of the current campaign.

“My target is to come back this season,” he added.

“I don’t give up on this season, [but] I don’t want to make any mistakes. My target is six or seven months.

“I am doing much better than I thought. I am enjoying the rest, if it is possible to say it that way.

“My feeling was, not like a crack, the knee was stable. I was confident it wasn’t too bad. But I have a positive mentality now and that’s it.

“The first month and a half was bad in terms of pain. I couldn’t walk, but now it is easier.”

Premier League

Tottenham defender Dragusin sidelined for the season with ACL injury

Tottenham Hotspur defender Radu Dragusin is set to miss the remainder of the season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in his right knee during the club’s Europa League clash against Elfsborg.

The 23-year-old will undergo surgery and is expected to be out for at least six months, with recovery timelines for ACL injuries sometimes extending up to a year.

In a statement, Tottenham confirmed that Dragusin “will be assessed by our medical team to determine when he can return to training.”

Having started 21 of Tottenham’s past 23 matches, Dragusin has been a vital part of the defense since his arrival from Genoa in January 2024 for £25 million.

The Romania international expressed determination to bounce back stronger, writing on Instagram:

“Football doesn’t just teach you how to win – it teaches you how to fight when things get tough.”

Dragusin joins a growing list of sidelined Tottenham players, including Destiny Udogie, Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, and Cristian Romero.

To bolster their defensive options, Spurs recently signed Austrian defender Kevin Danso on loan with a £21 million purchase option. Additionally, the club’s £70 million bid for England defender Marc Guehi was rejected by Crystal Palace, though they secured 19-year-old attacker Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich.

Premier League

Arteta disappointed by Arsenal’s lack of winter signings

Nobody Works Harder Than Me - Arteta On Woeful Arsenal Display

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed disappointment over the club’s failure to strengthen their squad during the winter transfer window but commended the management’s disciplined approach to player recruitment.

The Gunners were linked with potential attacking reinforcements following Gabriel Jesus’ season-ending ACL injury and the continued absence of Bukayo Saka due to a hamstring issue. However, no deals materialized before the window closed.

Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s EFL Cup semi-final second leg against Newcastle on Wednesday, Arteta stated:

“We had a clear intention which is always when a window opens to explore the opportunities to improve our squad with players that can make an impact.

“With players injured, we’ve been impacted and we haven’t achieved it. We are disappointed in that sense but as well we are very aware that we only want to bring certain kinds of players and we have to be very disciplined with that as well. I think that we were.”

Despite the challenges, Arteta emphasized the importance of staying true to Arsenal’s recruitment philosophy.

“It’s in the profile, a player that we believe can make us much better. Financially there is a lot of ways, a lot of things that we must stay in the lane that has taken us this far and from there try to improve.”

Arsenal face a difficult task in Wednesday’s semi-final after a 2-0 defeat in the first leg against Newcastle.

Premier League

Gary Neville backs Arsenal to challenge Liverpool for Premier League title

Manchester United legend Gary Neville has expressed confidence that Arsenal can still beat Liverpool to the Premier League title this season, despite facing challenges with injuries and a quiet January transfer window.

The Gunners trail Liverpool by six points, with the Reds holding a game in hand. However, Neville remains optimistic about Arsenal’s title hopes.

Speaking as quoted on Arsenal News Channel, Neville said: “It’s a difficult window to do business in, and the type of striker Arsenal need is a significant one, and those players aren’t available. Ollie Watkins would have hit the ground running at Arsenal, but you need to be world-class to get into that team.”

He praised Arsenal’s patience and strategic management:
“I can see why they are being patient. Liverpool did the same with Martin Zubimendi. Both Arsenal and Liverpool are being run pretty well. They won’t panic.”

Neville emphasized that Arsenal’s chances hinge on staying competitive if Liverpool falters:
“Arsenal can still win the title. It’s a long shot, but they just need to be there if Liverpool slip up. Injuries happen to big players in football, and the loss of Van Dijk or Salah would disrupt [Liverpool].”

Arsenal’s next challenge comes on Wednesday in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-finals against Newcastle United, who hold a 2-0 advantage from the first leg.