Manchester City's Rodri said players are "close" to going on strike in protest of the crowded soccer calendar, which has increasingly become a point of tension in the sport amid concerns about player welfare.

The decision facing him is to sign the new contract at the club where he is happy, essentially committing himself to City and ruling out a move away for the remaining peak years of his contract, or wait and see what happens with the charges and take things from there, whether that means committing to City, or waiting to see Madrid’s next move.

The soccer calendar has become so full that players are getting less time between games and fewer offseason windows to recuperate. Manchester City’s Rodri is speaking out about the schedule congestion and the possibility of a worldwide player’s strike.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri says top soccer players are close to going on strike because of the number of games they are having to play.

I come to be entertained' - Rio Ferdinand says Manchester City's Rodri is not "entertaining" enough to win the Ballon d'Or before Champions League clash

Players could be close to strike action over the amount of games they are required to play, Manchester City midfielder Rodri warned on Tuesday on the eve of their Champions League opener against Inter Milan.

The Spanish midfielder is being eyed by the 15-time European champions, with City keen to see him stay in Manchester.

Man City’s Rodri has claimed players are close to going on strike over fixture congestion - and we are closer to that point than ever before.