Rodri misses Manchester City training as Reijnders agrees £52.1m transfer
Manchester City midfielders Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders missed training on Thursday ahead of their Community Shield clash against Arsenal, amid intense transfer speculation.
The influential Spaniard is effectively ruled out of Sunday’s season-opener in Wales against the reigning Premier League champions.
He was afforded an extended break after leading his national team to World Cup glory this summer, before subsequently undergoing minor surgery.
Barcelona push for Spanish midfielder
Speculation regarding the 30-year-old’s future intensified following his absence, especially after Barcelona saw a second bid rejected by the English club.
The midfield anchor has previously expressed a desire to return to La Liga and is keen to move following the departure of Pep Guardiola.
However, manager Enzo Maresca dismissed immediate transfer concerns and confirmed the player was always scheduled to return on Friday.
“Yes, at the moment he will be in Manchester. There is no update. On August 14 he will be back.”
Reijnders seals lucrative Saudi switch
Meanwhile, Reijnders was also missing from the open session as he finalised a permanent move to Al Qadsiah.
The Netherlands international has reportedly agreed to join the Saudi Pro League outfit in a deal worth £52.1m, just one year after arriving from AC Milan.
This high-profile transfer means the Middle Eastern club has successfully beaten Nottingham Forest to the Dutchman’s signature.
The reigning FA Cup holders could now use these newly acquired funds to finance a blockbuster move for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez.