Rodri has returned to training at Manchester City, stepping up his recovery from an ACL rupture suffered in September, as he eyes a potential return for the Club World Cup.
Rodri has taken a significant step in his rehabilitation from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture, returning to training at Manchester City’s Etihad Campus as he targets an accelerated comeback ahead of schedule.
The Ballon d’Or winner, who suffered the devastating knee injury against Arsenal on 22 September, was initially expected to miss the remainder of the season.
However, footage released by City shows the midfielder engaging in individual drills, fuelling the belief that he may yet feature in June’s Club World Cup in the United States.
ACL injuries remain one of the most serious setbacks in football, requiring surgical reconstruction followed by a structured, multi-phase rehabilitation process. The standard timeline for recovery typically spans six to nine months, though elite athletes with access to advanced medical interventions and cutting-edge rehabilitation facilities often push the boundaries of conventional recovery.
Rodri’s rehabilitation, like Gabriel Jesus who is out with the same injury, would have begun with acute post-surgical management, focusing on reducing swelling, restoring range of motion, and engaging the quadriceps to prevent atrophy.
The next stage would involve controlled weight-bearing exercises, neuromuscular training, and proprioceptive drills to regain stability and prevent compensatory imbalances.
As he progressed, strength training, plyometric exercises, and controlled sport-specific movements would have been introduced to prepare his knee for the explosive demands of elite football.
The final stage – return to play – is where Rodri now finds himself. This period involves on-field conditioning, agility drills, and limited contact training before full squad reintegration.
Given his role as City’s midfield fulcrum, his ability to withstand sustained high-intensity duels and maintain positional dominance will be critical markers for his return timeline.
The impact of Rodri’s absence has been acutely felt by Pep Guardiola’s side, with City struggling to exert the same level of control that has defined their dominance in recent seasons. While there is still no definitive return date, his presence on the training pitch represents a major milestone in an already impressive recovery.
If he is to feature in June’s Club World Cup, Rodri will need to complete the final phase of reintegration, which involves progressing from modified training to full-intensity sessions, achieving clearance through isokinetic strength testing, and passing a final return-to-play assessment under simulated match conditions.
For now, City will remain cautious. ACL recoveries, even when successful, demand patience and meticulous progression, as setbacks, particularly in the form of recurrent instability or compensatory injuries, are common pitfalls when timelines are rushed.
Yet, if his training progress continues at this pace, there is genuine optimism that he could make a competitive return far sooner than anticipated.
Speaking about the possibility that he could return this season, Pep Guardiola said, “The fans must know they are not the only ones who are excited. It’s been five or six months. But one step at a time, we don’t have to make stupid decisions to (pick him) weeks earlier. It’s good, but still, he’s not close to coming back, I’d say.
“But he’s touching the ball today, in the locker room making touches with the players. He feels confident, he feels more happy. I could not expect before (him to return) before the end of the season, not even the (Club) World Cup, in the Premier League (but now), maybe it’s going to happen.”