Barcelona star Eric Garcia backs national teammate to win Ballon d'Or, names him as one player he'd want to bring to club
Barcelona centre-back Eric Garcia wants his fellow Spaniard Rodri to win this year's Ballon d'Or. The Manchester City midfielder is coming off a superb season with club and country.
Rodri, 28, has been of the brightest performers for a star-studded City team since arriving at the Etihad in the summer of 2019. In 260 appearances across competitions, he has contributed 26 goals and 30 assists.
He has helped Pep Guardiola's side win an unprecedented four straight Premier League titles, completing the four-peat last season. Rodri contributed nine goals and 14 assists in 50 games across competitions as City also won the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.
However, their bid for consecutive European trebles was thwarted by eventual winners Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final on penalties before Guardiola's side were upset by Manchester United in the FA Cup final.
Rodri, though, continued his superb form on the interntional stage, scoring once in six games from midfield as Spain beat England 2-1 in the Euro 2024 final to become the first team to win four European Championships.
"Who deserves to win the Ballon d'Or? Rodri," said Garcia (as per Tribuna) oabout his compatriot's Ballon d'Or credentials before adding:
"A signing I would make for Barcelona? Rodri."
The winner of the 2024 Ballon d'Or award will be announced on October 28 in Paris, with Real Madrid attacker Vinicius Junior and Rodri considered as two of the leading contenders.
It's pertinent to note that Rodri is seemingly out for the season after suffering an ACL injury.
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal sustains injury on international duty
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal was a standout performer for Spain in their Euro 2024 triumph in Germany this summer. He has also had a fine start to the club season, registering four strikes and five assists in nine league outings for the La Liga leaders.
The 17-year-old started Spain's 1-0 win over Denmark in Murcia in the UEFA Nations League at the weekend. Lamal, though, came off late on, but n initial MRI scan ruled out any serious injury, with the Spanish football federation (RFEF) releasing a statement (via 90Min):
"Tests have not detected any structural injury, and the RFEF medical services confirm that it is an overload."
Ahead of the Serbia clash on Tuesday (October 15), Spain boss Luis de La Fuente said about Yamal, who has returned to his club:
"Lamine had some discomfort at the end of the match. I spoke to him, and he told me that he thought he wouldn't be 100% fit on Tuesday, and when in doubt, we always bet on the health of the athlete. Football is football; if it has to happen, it will happen."
It's currently unknown whether Yamal will play Barcelona's league game with Sevilla this weekend.