Man City midfielder Rodri aims to return to action this season after ACL injury
Man City midfielder Rodri aims to return to action this season after ACL injury
Manchester City’s Rodri kisses off his Ballon d’Or (Golden Ball) award before the start of the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City’s Rodri waves to fans with his Ballon d’Or Golden Ball trophy ahead of the British Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England, Saturday Nov. 23, 2024. (Carl Recine, Pool Photo via AP)
Barcelona’s Spanish player Aitana Bonmati, left, and Manchester City’s Spanish player Rodri kiss their 2024 Ballon d’Or trophies during the 68th Ballon d’Or (Golden Ball) award ceremony at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Manchester City’s Rodri with his Ballon d’Or Golden Ball trophy ahead of the British Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England, Saturday Nov. 23, 2024. (Carl Recine, Pool Photo via AP)
Manchester City’s Rodri kisses off his Ballon d’Or (Golden Ball) award before the start of the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City’s Rodri kisses off his Ballon d’Or (Golden Ball) award before the start of the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City’s Rodri waves to fans with his Ballon d’Or Golden Ball trophy ahead of the British Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England, Saturday Nov. 23, 2024. (Carl Recine, Pool Photo via AP)
Manchester City’s Rodri waves to fans with his Ballon d’Or Golden Ball trophy ahead of the British Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England, Saturday Nov. 23, 2024. (Carl Recine, Pool Photo via AP)
Barcelona’s Spanish player Aitana Bonmati, left, and Manchester City’s Spanish player Rodri kiss their 2024 Ballon d’Or trophies during the 68th Ballon d’Or (Golden Ball) award ceremony at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Barcelona’s Spanish player Aitana Bonmati, left, and Manchester City’s Spanish player Rodri kiss their 2024 Ballon d’Or trophies during the 68th Ballon d’Or (Golden Ball) award ceremony at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Manchester City’s Rodri with his Ballon d’Or Golden Ball trophy ahead of the British Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England, Saturday Nov. 23, 2024. (Carl Recine, Pool Photo via AP)
Manchester City’s Rodri with his Ballon d’Or Golden Ball trophy ahead of the British Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England, Saturday Nov. 23, 2024. (Carl Recine, Pool Photo via AP)
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Ballon d’Or winner Rodri is hopeful he will play again this season after sustaining ACL damage.
The Manchester City midfielder was expected to be out for the rest of the campaign following surgery in September, but has said he is making good progress in his recovery.
“My target is to come back this season. In terms of my mentality it is going to be positive for me to don’t give up the season and throw it,” Rodri told “The Rest Is Football” podcast. “I don’t want to make any mistakes. My target is six or seven months.”
Rodri injured his right knee in City’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal in September. An ACL injury can take from six months to a year to heal and City manager Pep Guardiola declared his season was over after the surgery.
City has struggled in his absence and is on a six-game winless run in all competitions.
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