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

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.

If Rodri is soliciting sympathy through his threat to go on strike, his last resort in railing against an excessive workload, he might find he hears only the sound of the world’s smallest violin.

Jules Kounde and Dani Carvajal have echoed Rodri's comments that players feel as if they have no voice when it comes to the impact that a congested football calendar has on their welfare. The

Rodri revealed players are not happy with soccer's expanded match calendar. Ahead of Manchester City's clash with Inter Milan, Rodri fielded questions from jour

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has suggested players are "close" to going on strike because of concerns over their increasing workload.

MANCHESTER — 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.

Barcelona defender Jules Kounde “agreed with everything” said by Manchester City’s Rodri on footballers being “close” to striking over the volume of matches. The mass expansion of the Club World Cup by FIFA — coupled with an increase in Champions League matches in UEFA’s new competition format — has swelled the club calendar.

Luke Entwistle reporting from Monaco Manchester City midfielder Rodri (28) evoked the idea of a strike in reaction to the increasingly packed schedule. Barcelona’s Jules Koundé (25) has echoed

Barcelona defender Jules Kounde has indicated he would be open to a player strike unless the season fixture overload is addressed.

Barcelona's Jules Kounde was in agreement with Manchester City's Rodri that players could go on strike