Pep Guardiola has admitted that Rodri was rushed back from injury too soon but insists the Manchester City midfielder is now edging closer to his influential best.
The City boss spoke candidly about Rodri’s recovery journey after a testing spell that began with knee ligament damage suffered in September 2024, the same year the Spaniard lifted the Ballon d’Or.
Although he returned to action in May, Rodri has found it difficult to immediately rediscover his usual dominance in midfield and later missed a significant part of this campaign with a hamstring problem.
Reflecting on that decision, Guardiola was clear in his assessment.
“He came back too early,” said Guardiola. “Our desire to get him back, him especially, he came back early, that’s why it was longer. It’s a good lesson.
“Human beings have a time for recovery. There are players who can recover earlier, like Bernardo (Silva) for example or Phil (Foden), and other ones need more time. Still it’s not his best but every time his mood and his training and his playing [is improving]. He’s a special player.”
As the season gathers pace, Guardiola believes Rodri’s rhythm is steadily returning, with confidence and sharpness building match by match for the midfield anchor at Manchester City.
With the 29-year-old’s contract set to expire next summer, Guardiola was also asked about the prospect of Rodri extending his stay at the Etihad Stadium. His response left little doubt about the importance of the Spaniard to City’s long-term plans.
“I would love [that] desperately.
“Rodri is Rodri. As much age as he has, more wiser, more understanding of the game.
“There are players that are defined on the big stages, in the difficulties, and Rodri’s one of them, like Bernie, like Ruben (Dias), like many of them that I had in the past. You cannot achieve what we achieved if you don’t have huge personalities.”
As City continue to chase silverware on multiple fronts, Guardiola’s faith in Rodri’s leadership and big-game mentality remains unwavering, underlining just how central the midfielder is to the club’s sustained success.
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