Manchester City are interested in Said El Mala and reportedly eyeing a move for the FC Köln and Germany’s talent as concerns over Rodri’s long-term fitness continue to trouble Pep Guardiola’s side.
According to reports from Germany, the Sky Blues have joined Chelsea and several European giants in the pursuit of the highly rated 17-year-old midfielder.
Manchester City’s midfield has undergone significant transformation in recent months following a turbulent campaign that saw them finish without a single major trophy — a rarity under Guardiola’s reign.
The shake-up began with the appointment of Hugo Viana as the club’s new sporting director, succeeding Txiki Begiristain, who had overseen City’s transfer strategy for over a decade.
Viana conducted a detailed evaluation of Guardiola’s squad and approved several major changes to the midfield setup.
The departures of Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, and academy product James McAtee marked the end of an era at the Etihad.
In their place, City brought in Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan and Rayan Cherki from Lyon, signalling a new phase in Guardiola’s evolution of his team.
The Catalan tactician now faces the challenge of rebuilding the core of a side that endured its lowest Premier League points total in almost ten years and crashed out of the UEFA Champions League at the early stage. The season ended in further disappointment when City lost the 2025 FA Cup final to Crystal Palace.
But perhaps the most pressing concern for Guardiola remains the long-term fitness of Rodri.
The Spanish midfielder, who won the Ballon d’Or following his outstanding 2023–24 season, ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in a 2-2 draw with Arsenal in September 2024 — an injury that has kept him sidelined for most of the past year.
Although Rodri made a brief comeback during the summer at the FIFA Club World Cup, he soon suffered another setback that left City’s midfield in a state of flux.
Guardiola has since rotated options in the holding role, relying on January signing Nico Gonzalez to anchor the midfield while allowing Rodri to regain full match fitness.
Mateo Kovacic, who underwent Achilles surgery during the summer, has also recently returned and is expected to share defensive duties in the coming months.
Despite the challenges, Guardiola remains optimistic that Rodri will return to his best. Still, sources close to the club suggest that City’s hierarchy are wary of the player’s recurring injury issues and may be forced to seek reinforcements if the situation persists into the new year.
City and Chelsea join race for Germany’s rising star Said El Mala
With the January 2026 transfer window approaching, Manchester City are not expected to engage in heavy spending. However, as has often been the case under Guardiola, opportunities in the market can quickly change plans.
Reports from Germany suggest that one such opportunity could involve Said El Mala, the latest talent to emerge from FC Köln’s academy.
According to Bild journalist Tobias Altschäffl, speaking on his Bayern Insider podcast and later reported by Sport Witness, Manchester City are interested in Said El Mala, joining several elite clubs monitoring his development.
The young midfielder has already made a strong impression in the Bundesliga, drawing comparisons to former German international Toni Kroos for his composure and technical quality on the ball.
El Mala’s performances have not gone unnoticed across Europe. FC Köln reportedly turned down a €20 million offer from Brighton and Hove Albion during the summer, a clear sign of how highly the club values their teenage star.
His maturity, vision, and ability to dictate play from deep midfield have made him one of the most sought-after prospects in Germany.
Alongside City and Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have both made informal approaches, engaging in what reports describe as “behind-the-scenes enquiries” with the player’s representatives and family.
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Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United have also expressed interest, adding further competition for his signature.
The report that Manchester City are interested in Said El Mala appears to be part of a broader strategy under Viana, who is keen to secure the next generation of midfield talent capable of sustaining Guardiola’s high-tempo system in the years ahead.
Although City are not currently prioritising a defensive midfielder in January, the situation could change depending on Rodri’s recovery and the club’s form heading into 2026.
