Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has warned that Rodri will likely not get back to his best until next summer’s World Cup.
The Spaniard is still easing himself back into regular top-flight football after missing the majority of the 2024–25 season because of a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament).
Rodri’s absence was felt as City failed to defend their Premier League crown—the eight-time winners actually failed to win any silverware for the first time since Guardiola’s first year in charge (2016–17)—and they have shown fragility in the early stages of this season.
City dropped points from a winning position against Monaco in midweek, and two defeats from their opening six Premier League games means they are arleady five points behind early pacesetters Liverpool.
Much had been expected of Rodri following his Ballon d’Or win in 2024, but Guardiola was keen to stress in his latest news conference that expectations of the 29-year-old must be lowered—at least for the interim.






