{"id":1370491,"date":"2024-12-14T06:00:38","date_gmt":"2024-12-14T06:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1370491"},"modified":"2026-02-13T16:59:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T16:59:19","slug":"bruno-guimaraes-vs-martin-zubimendi-man-city-rodri-replacements","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/bruno-guimaraes-vs-martin-zubimendi-man-city-rodri-replacements\/","title":{"rendered":"Bruno Guimaraes or Martin Zubimendi? How Man City targets compare to Rodri"},"content":{"rendered":"

Manchester City’s reliance on Rodri has been laid painfully bare over the last couple of months.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

With their midfield linchpin and Ballon d’Or winner sidelined for the season with a cruciate ligament tear, City have fallen apart. In a never-before-seen run from a Pep Guardiola side or the club in the Sheikh Mansour era, Man City have won just one of their last 10 matches across all competitions, losing seven times during that run, including five in a row between October 30 and November 23.<\/p>\n

[dugoutvideo id=”eyJrZXkiOiIiLCJwIjoic3F1YXdrYSIsInBsIjoiVGtJdmU0eXoifQ==” partner=”squawka”]<\/span><\/p>\n

City haven’t been helped by the fact that Mateo Kovacic has also fallen prey to injury but, if anything, that has only served to highlight their need for depth further.<\/p>\n

With all that in mind, it’ll come as little surprise to read reports that City are strongly considering wading into the transfer market to find a new holding midfielder for Guardiola to build his side around.<\/p>\n

Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes has reportedly<\/a> been a long-time target for the Cityzens and that rumour isn’t going away. But City are now also being linked<\/a> with Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi, who rejected a move to Liverpool in the summer.<\/p>\n

\n
\r\n

BOYLE Sports offer: Bet \u00a310 Get \u00a340 in free bets<\/h2>\r\n

Not signed up to BOYLE Sports<\/a> yet? Here's how to claim one of the best bookmaker welcome offers around...<\/p>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n

    \r\n
  1. Sign up to BOYLE Sports using this link<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  2. Deposit a minimum of \u00a310 (Excluding Skrill\/Moneybookers, Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe or prepaid cards).<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  3. Place a minimum bet of \u00a310 or more at odds of EVS (2.0) or greater.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  4. Receive your \u00a340 in free bets<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

    \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n

    \"\"<\/a><\/p>\r\n

    <\/p>\r\n

    18+ New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Min Deposit \u00a310. Min stake \u00a310. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out\/Free Bets won\u2019t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. T&Cs Apply<\/em><\/p>\r\n

    \n

    How do Guimaraes and Zubimendi compare to Rodri?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    When compared with Rodri’s 2023\/24 Premier League campaign — which helped him win the Ballon d’Or award — it’s no shock to see Guimarares and Zubimendi off the pace when it comes to creativity, possession involvement and sheer number of passes.<\/p>\n

    However, there are some key areas where both players excel that would massively help Guardiola return some structure to his team.<\/p>\n

    In the case of Zubimendi, it’s his defensive output. The Spain international has averaged 1.3 interceptions, 2.3 clearances and 2.8 tackles per 90 minutes in La Liga this season, compared to 0.8, 1.3 and 2.2 per 90 from Rodri last season. What’s more, Zubimendi has also committed 1.3 fouls per 90 this season, which is the same as Rodri in the Premier League last campaign — Guardiola knows the value of someone who can drag an opponent down or perform a sneaky trip at just the right moment to stop a counter-attack without getting booked. Losing that presence of mind in the middle has left his side horribly exposed in recent weeks.<\/p>\n

    For Guimaraes, his strengths lie in dynamism, averaging 1.5 successful dribbles and 3.8 fouls won per 90 this season, compared to 1.3 and 1.1, respectively, for Rodri last campaign. Guimaraes has also won 7.5 ground duels and 7.9 overall duels per 90, while Rodri only managed 4.5 and 6.2, respectively.<\/p>\n

    <\/div>\n

    \u201cIt shows I\u2019m at a high level, but nothing more than rumours. I spoke to Pep once, I praised his work, he praised my work,\u201d Guimaraes said of praise from Guardiola during a recent international break, adding: \u201cI know Guardiola likes my football, it\u2019s normal to have great coaches admire your football.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Zubimendi, meanwhile, was lauded<\/a> as the second-best player in the world in his position by Spain boss Luis de la Fuente behind — yes, you guessed — Rodri.<\/p>\n