The story of Rodri is one that will always be remembered as a tale of strength, pain, hope and the never ending hunger to continue playing at the very top of football. Manchester City’s midfield general, the man who has been the heartbeat of Pep Guardiola’s empire for years, has finally spoken out after one of the worst experiences any footballer can go through – an ACL injury that kept him away from the pitch for almost an entire season. Many players never return the same after such a devastating injury. Some lose confidence, some lose their explosiveness, and some simply cannot recover mentally. But Rodri, calm and thoughtful as ever, has made a bold claim. He believes this injury might not just be a setback but could actually help him extend his career and make him stronger than ever.
It was a shocking blow when Rodri suffered the ACL tear. The news shook Manchester City fans and football lovers across Europe. A ruptured anterior cruciate ligament is every footballer’s nightmare, the kind of injury that can derail careers and leave scars forever. For City, it meant being without their most trusted midfielder, the player who controls games, dictates tempo, and shields the defence with unmatched intelligence. For Spain, it meant losing a leader in the middle of the park. And for Rodri himself, it meant facing a year of loneliness, rehab, frustration, and endless questions about the future. Would he ever be the same again? Would he be able to dominate games like he used to? Would he even come back at all?
The truth is, last season was one of silence for Rodri. As Manchester City continued their battles on the pitch, he was locked in battles of his own in the gym, on the treatment table, and in the quiet hours when doubt creeps in. He also suffered groin problems during pre-season, which slowed his return even further. Yet through all of it, Rodri chose to stay positive. Now, speaking to Spanish media while on international duty with Spain, he has shared the thoughts that carried him through the darkness and revealed how he sees his future in football.
Rodri said something that surprised many people. Instead of calling the injury a curse, he called it a blessing in disguise. He explained that the year away from constant football gave his legs, his body, and even his mind a chance to rest in a way they never could during the non-stop cycle of elite football. “I think that the injury is going to lengthen my sporting career because, whether you like it or not, I’ve been giving my legs and my body a rest for a year now,” Rodri said. His words showed not bitterness but perspective. He understood that while no player wants such a serious injury, sometimes it forces you to stop, recharge, and come back fresh.
He went deeper, revealing that it was not only the physical side that benefited but also the mental side. “Also to give some fresh air to the brain, yes,” Rodri explained. “I would also put it on the same level as the physical aspect. The fact of getting excited again, of getting motivated again, of seeking new goals.” It was a powerful admission from a player often seen as cold and robotic on the pitch. Off it, he revealed the human side of football, the mental exhaustion that can come from playing year after year without pause. He even admitted with a smile that during his injury he enjoyed simple freedoms he had long denied himself, like eating chocolate biscuits for breakfast if he felt like it. Little things that reminded him he was more than just a football machine.
These reflections showed why Rodri is not just a footballer but a thinker, a man who understands the bigger picture. For him, the year away became a chance to rebuild not only his body but his spirit. To spend more time with family, to reconnect with life outside football, and to remember why he fell in love with the game in the first place.
Of course, the question everyone wants to know is how long Rodri believes he can continue playing at the highest level. The midfielder, now entering what many call the prime years of his career, gave an honest answer. He said he still feels young, but he does not imagine himself playing at 40 like Luka Modric. “I see myself as a little past the halfway point of my career,” he said. “Ultimately, there’s also a genetic factor. I see Modric, at 40, and it’s unimaginable that I, at 40, could be at Modric’s level. In any case, I think this injury, this year, will help extend my sporting career.” His words showed both ambition and humility. He knows his body, he knows his limits, but he also believes the rest he has been forced to take will give him more years at the top than if he had played non-stop.
Manchester City, of course, are already working on extending Rodri’s contract. It is no surprise, because he remains one of their most important players. Pep Guardiola has built his system around him for years. Even with the injury, City know his value. They know no one else in their squad can do exactly what Rodri does. His intelligence, his calmness, his positioning, his passing – he is the engine and the shield of the team. Losing him long-term was a blow, but having him return could feel like a new signing.
But City must act fast, because Real Madrid are watching. Reports have long linked Rodri with the Spanish giants, and they admire him greatly. With Luka Modric nearing the end of his career and Toni Kroos already retired, Madrid are preparing for the next generation of midfield leaders. Rodri, a Spaniard, a proven winner, and a player of the highest tactical intelligence, fits their dream perfectly. The danger for City is that if they hesitate, Madrid could make their move.
For Rodri himself, however, the focus is not on transfers or contracts but on rediscovering his best self. He knows his journey back will not be easy. ACL injuries leave physical scars, but also mental ones. The first tackle, the first sprint, the first time you stretch that leg fully again – all come with fear. But Rodri has always been a player of calm authority. If anyone can handle the pressure, it is him. And with Spain calling him back into the squad, it shows that both club and country still see him as vital.
Fans have reacted to his comments with admiration. Many praised his honesty, saying it was refreshing to hear a footballer talk openly about the mental side of injuries. Some even said they expect him to come back better, hungrier, and stronger. City fans especially are excited, because they know that if Rodri returns to his best, their chances of dominating English and European football remain high.
Rodri’s story is now one of survival and adaptation. From the heartbreak of injury to the hope of a longer career, he has turned pain into motivation. He has shown that even in the toughest moments, perspective and positivity can create new strength. The coming months will reveal how well his body holds up, how quickly he can return to full rhythm, and whether his words about extending his career will prove true. But one thing is certain – Rodri has not lost his hunger. If anything, it has grown.
When he steps back onto the pitch for Manchester City, fans will see more than just a player returning from injury. They will see a man who faced his worst fear, who used it to rediscover himself, and who is now ready to write the next chapter of his career. And in his own words, this may only be the halfway point. The future, for Rodri and for Manchester City, could still be very bright.
Because sometimes, even the dakest injuries can become the reason for a longer, stronger career. And for Rodri, this ACL nightmare may yet become the blessing that gave him many more years at the top of world football.
