Manchester City midfielder Rodri has expressed hope of returning to action before the end of the current season, despite suffering a serious injury in September. Rodri ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee during City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal, a setback that manager Pep Guardiola had initially indicated would sideline him for the remainder of the season.
However, speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Rodri shared that he remains optimistic about his recovery. “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,” he said. This timeline suggests a potential return in the second half of 2025, though he emphasized the importance of not rushing the recovery process.
Rodri also revealed that he is making better progress than expected. Despite the challenging injury, he mentioned, “I am doing much better than I thought. I am enjoying the rest, if it’s possible to say it that way.”
Rodri’s absence has been felt significantly at Manchester City, with the team failing to win any of their last six matches across all competitions without him in the lineup. The Spain international’s return would provide a significant boost to City’s midfield as they continue their pursuit of silverware this season. Rodri shared more details about the injury and his recovery process during his interview. Despite initially fearing the worst after the injury, he explained that the feeling wasn’t as severe as he first thought. “My feeling was, not like a crack, the knee was stable. I was confident it wasn’t too bad,” he said, highlighting his positive mindset throughout the recovery process.
The first month and a half after the injury was particularly difficult for Rodri due to significant pain that left him unable to walk. However, he has since made progress, stating, “Now it is easier,” as he continues to recover.
The Premier League season is set to conclude on 25 May, which is just eight days after the FA Cup final on 17 May. With Manchester City still competing for both domestic titles, Rodri is hopeful of making a return, depending on his recovery. Additionally, there is the expanded 32-team Club World Cup in the United States, which will take place from 15 June to the final on 13 July. This could be another potential target for Rodri’s return if he can recover in time.
Rodri’s potential comeback would be crucial for Manchester City, especially in key tournaments as they look to end the season with silverware.
