According to The Guardian, Manchester City are considering signing Torino midfielder Samuele Ricci during the January transfer window. The thought has been initiated as the Premier League club are eyeing a replacement for Rodri, who will miss the remainder of the season.
Who is Samuele Ricci?
Samuele Ricci came through the ranks of Empoli and made a move to Torino in the January window of 2022. He showcased his talent and high potential as he got opportunities. Impressed by his displays, the manager has integrated him into the starting lineup.
Ricci enjoyed a good season in the last campaign and made huge progress. He featured in 33 games, netting once and assisting four. He averaged 1 tackle, 0.8. interceptions, and 0.7 clearances per game (stats via whoscored).
The Italian midfielder is an intelligent reader of the game and can adapt to different playing styles. He plays as a deep-lying midfielder, controlling the tempo of the game. He is excellent at tackles and making blocks, and also makes accurate passes.
Samuele Ricci is not a direct replacement
Manchester City’s squad balanced as somewhere taken a hit following the injury of Rodri. The Spanish midfielder’s presence made the Pep Guardiola‘s side function well. Without him, they do suffer a bit and that was even seen in their recent draw against Newcastle United.
Hence, the Citizens are tempted to sign a replacement in the January window. To be fair, there is no direct replacement of Rodri available in the market. The club understands this and hence, they want to invest in a long-term asset.
Manchester City have identified Samuele Ricci as a potential pick. Considering his similar play style and huge potential, adding him to the squad wouldn’t be a bad idea at all. He has the qualities and the physicality to succeed in the Premier League.
City will certainly have to pay somewhere around £30 million to sign the youngster. Though it seems a bit overvalued, it could turn out to be a bargain deal in the future.
