March 25, (THEWILL)- Spain’s preparations for their high-profile friendly against Brazil were disrupted on Monday as key midfielder Rodri missed training due to personal reasons. The Spanish Football Association (RFEF), announced that the Manchester City star had been excused from the team’s camp over the weekend to attend to undisclosed private matters, casting doubt over his involvement in Tuesday’s match at the Santiago Bernabeu.
While the 27-year-old was rested for Spain’s 1-0 defeat by Colombia on Friday, his absence from training raises concerns about his availability for the clash against the South American giants. The dynamic midfielder has been in stellar form for Manchester City this term, after playing a pivotal role in the club’s historic Champions League triumph last season.
Luis de la Fuente, Spain’s manager, had opted to rotate his squad for the Colombia fixture, resting several key figures like Dani Carvajal and Alvaro Morata ahead of the European Championship in Germany, scheduled for June-July. Friday’s loss marked Spain’s first defeat in a year, highlighting the importance of having their strongest contingent available for the Brazil encounter.
The RFEF expects Rodri to rejoin the squad later on Monday, though his participation in Tuesday’s friendly remains uncertain. De la Fuente will be keen to have the influential midfielder at his disposal as Spain aims to bounce back with a strong performance against the formidable Brazilian team that narrowly stopped England’s triumphant Wembley string of victories in Saturday’s friendly.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
