Rodri provides fitness update as Hugo Viana assesses January transfer market | OneFootball

Manchester City star Rodri has issued an honest verdict on how he’s feeling back on the pitch in the backdrop of an injury-riddled 15 months.

The 29-year-old played 90 minutes a 2-0 derby defeat to Manchester United on Saturday as goals from Bryan Mbuemo and Patrick Dorgu succumbed Manchester City to their first loss in 14 games in all competitions at Old Trafford.

Rodri has recently returned to City’s starting XI, having spent the best part of the last 15 months on and off on the sidelines as he grappled with recurring fitness setbacks since rupturing his ACL in a 2-2 draw with Arsenal in September 2024.

After a brief return to action at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States last summer, it was one step forward, two steps back for the former Atletico Madrid man, who suffered another injury to delay his start to the 2025-26 campaign.

Though he did manage to get a string of games under his belt in September 2025, Rodri returned to the sidelines after pulling him hamstring early on in Manchester City’s 1-0 win away at Brentford in early October 2025.

Despite returning to fitness in mid-November, Rodri was protected by Pep Guardiola and his coaching staff, who were wary of rushing the midfielder back to action and risking another fitness setback.

Amid Rodri’s absence, Nico Gonzalez stepped in and established himself as a more-than-capable stand-in for the Ballon d’Or winner, who has returned to action this month and is slowly but surely getting back to his best.

In conversation with Manchester City’s official channels after Saturday’s 2-0 derby defeat across town, Rodri provided an encouraging update on his fitness as he looks to play a crucial role for the Blues in the second half of the campaign.

“Yeah, ready to go and I’m very happy to be on the pitch every single day. Every day I feel better, so yeah, happy and desire to help the team in all senses,” the Villarreal academy graduate said.

City are winless in the Premier League in 2026 after four times of asking, having drawn against Sunderland, Chelsea and Brighton in succession before Manchester United dealt a major blow to the Blues’ title hopes at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Rodri’s fitness and form will undoubtedly play a telling role in how Manchester City fare in terms of silverware come the end of the season, with Gonzalez also expected to return from a knock sooner rather than later.

Guardiola will be desperate to keep his holding midfield pair fit and firing in what remains of the season, with the jury still out on whether Manchester City can overturn their recent fortunes and fulfil their aspirations of a fifth Premier League title in six seasons.