“My goal is to return” – Rodri makes significant admission over recovery and return date to Manchester City action

Manchester City’s Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has made a significant admission over his intended return date from his double knee injury sustained in September.

The 28-year-old had been ruled out for the remainder of the ongoing campaign earlier this season, after sustaining damage to both his anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus during an off-the-ball incident against Arsenal in the Premier League.

Initial assessments revealed a belief in some quarters that Rodri may have avoided any serious damage, however later scans and reviews of the injury in Spain detailed the worst-possible outcome for the player, Manchester City, and the national team.

The absence of the Ballon d’Or winner would no doubt affect any team in world football, but for Manchester City the impact has been largely disastrous, having now gone seven matches across all competitions without a win.

As such, Pep Guardiola and the entire Manchester City squad will be desperate for life with Rodri once again, and that may come this season, albeit in the final matches and weeks of the campaigns.

Speaking during a recent conversation with Gary Lineker and Micah Richards for ‘The Rest is Football’ podcast, Rodri revealed his intention to return to action for City before the end of the ongoing campaign.

“My goal is to return this season,” Manchester City’s star defensive midfielder revealed. He continued, “I haven’t given up, but I also don’t want to make mistakes. My aim is to be back in six or seven months.”

Rodri went on to explain on his recovery from injury, “I’m much better than I expected. I’m enjoying the rest, if that’s possible. When I got injured, I didn’t feel a ‘crack’; my knee felt stable.

“I thought it wasn’t very serious, and now I’m feeling optimistic. The first month and a half was tough because of the pain – I couldn’t walk – but now it’s easier.”

For now, Pep Guardiola and his coaching staff will continue to seek alternatives to the absence of Rodri in his Manchester City side, with recent figures deployed in the defensive midfield ranks ranging from Ilkay Gundogan to Rico Lewis.

There is a belief in some quarters that the Catalan tactician believes Manuel Akanji may be his best option in the defensive midfield role, but it remains to be seen whether that entails the Switzerland international operating on his own.

Manchester City take on the likes of Manchester United, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, and Leicester City in the Premier League across December alone, whilst an away trip to Juventus awaits in the UEFA Champions League.