In a huge potential boost for Manchester City, the latest Rodri injury update suggests he may be fit to play again before the end of the season.
The Spanish midfielder ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee during City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal in September.
Known and feared across the sporting world, an ACL rupture is almost always season-ending – and can sometimes finish an athlete’s career.
Unsurprisingly, when the extent of Rodri’s issue was confirmed, manager Pep Guardiola ruled him out for the season.
Rodri’s importance to the team cannot be overstated, with his side’s form plummeting in his absence. City are now winless in six games and look a shadow of their former selves.
But in a shocking development, it appears the 28-year-old Ballon d’Or winner may yet return this campaign.
Rodri Injury Update Gives Manchester City Hope
Speaking to The Rest Is Football podcast, Rodri gave a far more positive injury update than most would expect.
He said: “My target is to come back this season. I don’t give up on this season, [but] I don’t want to make any mistakes. My target is six or seven months.
“I am doing much better than I thought. I am enjoying the rest, if it possible to say it that way.
“My feeling was, not like a crack, the knee was stable. I was confident it wasn’t too bad. But I have a positive mentality now and that’s it.
“The first month and a half was bad in terms of pain, I couldn’t walk, but now it is easier.”
With the Premier League season finishing on 25 May, Rodri’s six-month timeline puts him right on the edge of making a comeback in time. The FA Cup final is eight days earlier, on 17 May.
Both of these dates may prove too soon for the midfielder, but City’s domestic campaign this year will be followed by the expanded, 32-team Club World Cup.
Held in the United States, the competition runs from 15 June until the final on 13 July.
The Premier League season finishes on 25 May, eight days after the FA Cup final on 17 May.
Rodri’s Ballon d’Or Win Overshadowed By Injury
From the highs on winning Euro 2024 and the Ballon d’Or, Rodri was brought crashing down to earth by his injury.
He said: “I have lived the best and worst part of my career with the Ballon d’Or and then injury, but it gives me oxygen to come back again in a good way.
“I can’t describe the emotion. In my generation [we] only see two guys winning the trophy [Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo].”
As well as the injury, Real Madrid’s choice to boycott the awards ceremony in Paris also put a dampener on the evening.
Real did not attend the event – believed to be because Vinicius Jr was not the winner.
“I cannot respect the decision,” said Rodri on the boycott.
“In sport and in life, it’s important to win. But I think even more how to lose, and I say always the same – it was my moment, I didn’t want to speak about others.
“They didn’t want to be there – I want to be with my club, with my family, the people that were there and clapped me, and that was a fantastic moment.”
