Explained: The reason Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov arrived at the team hotel past midnight before the vital Real Madrid showdown.

Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov reportedly faced a delay in joining the team at their hotel before their Champions League clash with Real Madrid due to visa complications.

The 20-year-old was spotted arriving at the Cityzens’ hotel in Madrid at 12:40 a.m. by cameras from the Spanish show El Chiringuito, despite being named in Pep Guardiola’s squad. While the show’s hosts expressed concern about his late arrival, they noted that he appeared healthy and arrived safely.

It has since been reported that Khusanov’s delayed arrival was linked to visa issues. The young defender, who joined City from Lens in a £33 million move in January, has yet to make his Champions League debut but has been a regular in domestic matches.

Khusanov started in City’s dominant 4-0 victory over Newcastle at the weekend. Reports suggest that complications stemming from the UK’s exit from the EU and Schengen area made travel to Spain difficult for the Uzbekistan international. As a result, he had to take a private flight to Greece before continuing to Madrid.

Man City face a crucial second leg against Real Madrid, needing to overturn a 3-2 deficit from the first leg at the Etihad. Erling Haaland’s brace was not enough to secure an advantage, as Jude Bellingham’s late winner gave the Spanish side the edge.

Guardiola acknowledged the difficulty of the task ahead, saying in his pre-match press conference that City’s chances of progressing were just “one percent.” He emphasized the need for a near-perfect performance, playing with courage and handling the pressure of a high-stakes match.

In a boost for City, Haaland trained as usual after a minor knee injury scare against Newcastle. Jack Grealish, Ruben Dias, and Nathan Ake, who missed the weekend fixture, were also involved in training ahead of the clash.