Rodri, the Manchester City midfielder and Spain international, has reflected on his injury recovery, World Cup ambitions, and future during a press conference ahead of a friendly against Serbia.
Under coach Luis de la Fuente, Rodri secured his first two international trophies and rose to global prominence, eventually becoming one of Spain’s standout players, including winning the Ballon d’Or in 2024. Now, just months before the World Cup, he is working his way back after a serious ligament injury that sidelined him last season, though he appears to be regaining top form.
“If I had to choose a moment when it happened, I might have chosen the one when it happened (…) It was good for rest, to slow down… Mentally, there was exhaustion. It has allowed me to recharge and come back with tremendous enthusiasm (…) This season I don’t have as much minutes load and I arrive much fresher,” he explains on Radioestadio Noche.
The midfielder has also been linked with a potential move to Real Madrid next summer. While he admitted he would like to play in LaLiga at some point, he stressed that his immediate focus is on returning to peak performance.
“I have a year left on my contract, there will be a point where we’ll have to sit down and talk and dialogue,” he explains, while not ruling out playing for the Whites one day despite his past at Atlético Madrid. “You can’t renounce the best clubs in the world,” he says.
Rodri has frequently been linked with Madrid, especially after several UEFA Champions League clashes and his Ballon d’Or win ahead of Vinícius Júnior.
“They wanted to face us, and I have a deep admiration for Vinicius the player,” Rodri ensures.
Competition and the World Cup
Spain will arrive at the World Cup this summer as one of the great favorites for the title. “We’re going to win,” assures a Rodri who gushes in praise of Luis de la Fuente, a coach who has brought Spain back to being among the best in the world.
“Since he arrived, we had a very clear mission: live every game as if it were a final. We have been demonstrating our potential little by little. The key is to have a unit in continuous improvement, in continuous aspiration (…) I am convinced that Spain will be there,” he says.
