Manchester City star and Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has returned to training with the club after missing almost all of the season through injury.
It was anticipated that the Spain international would miss the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in September – seven months ago.
However, earlier this year, City indicated that Rodri could return to action before then by registering the midfielder in their Champions League squad for the latter stages of the campaign, before duly exiting the competition in the last-16 play-offs.
He is yet to do so, but the midfielder has now returned to first team training, as per footage shared by Sky Sports.
The 28-year-old stepped up his recovery at the end of February as he was put through his paces through running and football drills in a montage posted by City.
It seems, though, that he has now taken another step and has been seen kicking a ball on the grass alongside his team-mates.
Manchester City star Rodri has returned to Manchester City training as he nears a comeback from his ACL injury
The Ballon d’Or winner’s injury has derailed City’s campaign as they struggled to replace him
Many have attributed City’s drop off this season to Rodri’s absence, with the midfielder leaving a gap in their midfield that the club tried to plug in January.
Nico Gonzalez arrived in a £50.2million move from Porto, while Mateo Kovacic has been Pep Guardiola’s go-to as Rodri’s deputy in a season that has seen City concede 43 top flight goals so far.
Speaking in March of his star man’s absence, Pep Guardiola said: ‘The fans must know they are not the only ones excited.
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‘It’s been 5-and-a-half months, six months, so after the international break it could be. But one step at a time — we don’t have to make stupid decisions for him to come back weeks earlier.
‘It’s good — although he’s not close to coming back, I’d say. But he’s been touching the ball, he’s been in the locker room. He feels confident, he’s more happy.
Guardiola explained that he initially did not expect Rodri to even be back for the Club World Cup final in mid-July, but went on to say that a return before the end of the season is not off the cards.
City have four Premier League games left to play, plus the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace on May 17. They will then play in the Club World Cup, with City’s first game on June 18.
