Rodri, Haaland to miss Manchester City's matches in Korea as they recover from World Cup
The Spanish captain and Norwegian forward were not in the club's provisional Asia tour squad that will also travel to Hong Kong to take on Inter Milan.
Spain captain Rodri hoists the FIFA World Cup trophy during the celebration of his team's title at Cibeles Square in Madrid on July 20.
AFP/YONHAP
Korean football fans will not get to see a pair of recent FIFA World Cup stars when the Premier League giants Manchester City visit Seoul for their Asian tour next month.
City unveiled their initial 28-man traveling squad on their website Wednesday, with conspicuous absences of midfielder Rodri and forward Erling Haaland.
Rodri captained Spain to their second World Cup title earlier this month and won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player — becoming the first winner of the honor without a goal or an assist. He recently left Real Madrid to join the Manchester side but also underwent what the club described this week as "minor" back surgery.
City said Rodri "will now begin a short period of rehabilitation" without providing a specific timeline for his return.
Haaland took Norway to the quarterfinals at the World Cup and finished a joint third for goals at the tournament with seven. The 26-year-old talisman has won three Premier League Golden Boots in his first four seasons with City.
"Due to the FIFA World Cup taking place this summer, several first-team players that reached the quarterfinal stages or beyond at the tournament will not travel for the men's preseason tour due to required rest time they are permitted ahead of the new Premier League season," the club said. "A small number of players that reached the round of 16 will join for part of the tour but are not with the squad departing Manchester today."
With new head coach Enzo Maresca in charge, City will play Inter Milan in Hong Kong on Saturday and then travel to Korea for two matches — against a K League All-Star squad next Wednesday and then against the Spanish club Atlético Madrid on Aug. 9, both at Seoul World Cup Stadium. This will be City's first visit to Korea since 2023.
Without Rodri and Haaland, City will be led by veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, defender Mateo Kovacic and midfielder Phil Foden, among others.
Yonhap
