Manchester City midfielder Rodri says he is targeting the FIFA Club World Cup for his return to action.
The Spanish international had surgery in September after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament against Arsenal. Most fans had already written off his chances of playing again this season but Rodri is optimistic he can make his comeback sooner than expected:
“I have in mind to play this season. Now the seasons are getting longer and the [FIFA Club] World Cup ends on July 13th, I have in mind to return this year, as a challenge. I’ve already started walking and I’m feeling better than I thought.”
ACL tend to take at least nine months to recover from so a return for the Club World Cup is a realistic ambition, as long as he doesn’t suffer any setbacks.
Rodri is unlikely to play in the Premier League
Despite the positive update from the player, it does seem as if there is little to no chance of him making an appearance in the league before the end of the campaign.
City find themselves 5 points adrift of leaders Liverpool after 11 games and many feel that Rodri’s absence has played a big role in their current struggles.
City may sign a replacement in January
With Rodri all but confirming that he won’t play before June at the very earliest, it may lead to the Premier League champions going into the transfer market to find cover.
Reports suggest that Rodri has actually recommended Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi as a potential target, while the likes of Atletico Madrid’s Pablo Barrios, Atalanta’s Ederson and Torino’s Samuele Ricci have also been linked with a switch to the Etihad in recent weeks. We shall have to wait and see whether the Cityzens do make a concerted effort to sign any of these players in January.
Find out who is in Manchester City’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here
