Pep Guardiola reveals Rodri will MISS Man City's season opener against Chelsea

Pep Guardiola has revealed that Rodri hasn't had a training session with Manchester City in pre-season yet and will not be considered for Sunday's opener against Chelsea.

The midfielder was part of Spain's Euro-winning side this summer, playing in all seven matches until a knock forced him to come off at half-time in the 2-1 victory in the final against England.

The Man City manager was hoping to have his holding midfielder ready for the start of the season but his lack of fitness represents a blow to the Etihad side.

Guardiola said today: 'He had zero training sessions with us, he's not ready.'

City have lost their previous four away games without Rodri, who has won four consecutive Premier League titles since he joined the side in 2020.

Last week he and Spain captain Alvaro Morata both picked up a ban from UEFA after controversial comments in the wake of their European Championship triumph.

The pair were caught singing 'Gibraltar is Spanish', which prompted UEFA to open disciplinary proceedings against the pair after the Gibraltar FA lodged a formal complaint.

Both were then charged in late July, with UEFA's disciplinary body possessing the power to hand down suspensions for both country and club European competitions simultaneously.

Uefa's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body then banned the pair for one game after being deemed guilty of 'failing to comply with the general principles of conduct, for violating the basic rules of decent conduct, for using sporting events for manifestations of a non-sporting nature and for bringing the sport of football, and UEFA in particular, into disrepute.'