Pep Guardiola gives encouraging Rodri update ahead of Manchester United and Arsenal games | OneFootball

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has handed an update on Rodri’s fitness after the Ballon d’Or holder was named in Spain’s recent international squad.

Rodri came off the bench in Manchester City’s 2-0 defeat to Tottenham last week, making his first appearance of the 2025-26 campaign after playing no part in his side’s matchday one win away at Wolves.

The 29-year-old has endured a difficult year with recurring injuries, having torn his ACL against Arsenal in a 2-2 draw in September 2024, which kept him on the sidelines for nearly the entirety of the recent campaign.

The former Atletico Madrid man, who joined City in 2019, made his long-awaited return to the pitch in the closing stages of his side’s 3-1 victory over Bournemouth in May, when he replaced Erling Haaland in the dying minutes of Kevin De Bruyne’s farewell home game.

Rodri progressed his recovery into the FIFA Club World Cup in June but having collected some minutes in the United States, the midfielder suffered a further fitness setback that went on to keep him out of contention for the months that followed.

Guardiola will be ultra cautious in phasing his best player back into the fold this time round, with Manchester City a much weaker outfit without Rodri – as was evident to the world last season – when the Blues desperately missed their midfield talisman over the course of their most underwhelming season under Guardiola.

It will only be until after the September international break that Rodri will return to peak fitness, as has been admitted by Guardiola in recent press conferences, with the likes of Nico Gonzalez, Ilkay Gundogan and new signing Tijjani Reijnders expected to fill in for Rodri in central midfield in the meantime.

Speaking to the media ahead of City’s trip to face Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday, Guardiola was quizzed for his thoughts on Rodri’s recent Spain call-up as the midfielder works towards full fitness after a year of recurring issues.

On whether he has spoken with Spain National Men’s Team coach Luis de la Fuente on Rodri’s delicate fitness situation, Guardiola said: “No, I never spoke with the manager from Spain, never.

“But we spoke with Rodri and of course, he feels better, better and needs minutes and I think they talked with each other, and they decided for him to be selected. I never say when a player is fit. Always I support (his players) to go to the national team.”

Rodri is available for selection and will make the trip to the south coast with the Manchester City squad for Sunday’s game, with the Blues looking to return to winning ways after a brutal reality check was handed to the 2023 treble winners by Tottenham last week.

Guardiola will be desperately hoping that Rodri can maintain his recovery and return to full fitness as soon as possible, with the margins too fine for Manchester City to afford a lousy start to their season – given the high standards set by Liverpool and Arsenal in recent years.