Manchester City are hopeful that any ban imposed on Rodri for an inflammatory chant during Spain’s European Championship celebrations will not impact their Champions League campaign.

Along with Álvaro Morata, Rodri was caught singing ‘Gibraltar is Spanish,’ which prompted UEFA to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the pair following a formal complaint from the Gibraltar FA.

Both players were charged earlier this week, and UEFA’s disciplinary body has the authority to issue suspensions that apply to both national and club European competitions simultaneously.

Jude Bellingham received a suspended ban – applicable to both England and Real Madrid – for an alleged obscene gesture made after scoring against Slovakia in the round of 16.

Merih Demiral, the Turkish defender who plays in Saudi Arabia, was banned for two national team matches for a politically charged ‘wolf’ celebration, which is considered to be linked to a far-right group.

Spain have two fixtures in September, and given the precedent set by previous cases during the Euros, Rodri is likely to be clear of any potential ban by the time the Champions League commences later that month.

The Gibraltar FA stated that it ‘noted the extremely provocative and insulting nature of the celebrations surrounding the Spanish men's national team winning Euro 2024. Football has no place for behaviour of this nature.’

The central midfielder, whom Pep Guardiola has tipped to win the Ballon d’Or later this year, will not rejoin City until the week of the Community Shield against Manchester United on 10th August.

Guardiola’s side moved to New York ahead of Saturday night’s friendly against AC Milan, and the manager was seen at the Rockefeller Centre yesterday, speaking enthusiastically about basketball.

The Catalan, whose friend Joe Mazzulla – the Boston Celtics coach – attended their defeat by Celtic in North Carolina earlier in the week, revealed he was given special access to the NBA finals last month.

Guardiola went to observe Mazzulla at work and reportedly helped the Celtics coach address a stubborn Dallas Mavericks defence.

‘I was privileged because a few days before the final, it was nice to listen to the game plan,’ Guardiola said at a Puma block party.

‘We were discussing how to control things. It was really nice. There are similarities between the games. It’s the highest competition: the NBA finals showcase the best of every player. It was really cool to be there and listen.’