Samuele Ricci appears to be gearing up to take over from Rodri at Manchester City, with speculation swirling that the 23-year-old midfielder could make the move to the Etihad Stadium when the transfer window opens in January. With Pep Guardiola looking to strengthen his squad after Rodri’s devastating ACL injury, Ricci has emerged as a potential target.
Rodri was forced off the pitch after a collision with Thomas Partey during City’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal, later undergoing knee surgery that has sidelined him for the remainder of the season. As Guardiola seeks reinforcements to maintain his team’s dominance, The Guardian reports that Manchester City are eyeing Ricci, whose contract with Torino runs until June 2026.
The Italian international could be available for around £30m, although Torino may resist selling mid-season, especially with their strong start in Serie A. The Bulls currently sit seventh, just five points behind league leaders Napoli and two points shy of fourth-placed Lazio. If Torino can keep up their form, they could be in the running for Champions League qualification, making them hesitant to lose a key player like Ricci.
When asked about the rumors linking him to City and AC Milan in an interview with RAI Sport, Ricci acknowledged the buzz but remained grounded. “It is very pleasing, of course, but I’ve learned to understand football a bit now,” he said, as quoted by Goal. “When things go well, you get linked with big clubs, and it’s gratifying because it means you’re on the right track.”
Ricci also credited his development to meticulous training and guidance from his coaches. “I’ve done a lot of work on turning my head to check what’s behind me. Sometimes you need to look more than twice, and Luciano Spalletti taught me that. My coach sends me videos to study, many of them of Rodri,” he said, highlighting the influence of Rodri’s style on his game. “I still have a lot to improve on, like my positioning. Torino fans deserve more, as it is a club with immense history, and rightly so, their supporters are demanding.”
Manchester City have also been linked with Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad as another possible successor to Rodri. When asked about the potential move, Zubimendi remained non-committal. “There are always rumours, but until now, I’ve always thought that the best solution for me is staying at Real Sociedad. I still have a lot to give to this club, and I want to continue growing here,” he told reporters.
