Rodri shares an injury update during an unexpected Super Bowl appearance and explains how he manages being sidelined while watching his Manchester City teammates.
Manchester City midfielder Rodri shared an update on his recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament injury during a surprise appearance at Super Bowl LIX between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs.
Sunday’s game at Caesars Superdome saw Philadelphia secure a 40-22 victory, with several high-profile footballers in attendance. Alongside Rodri, Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates—Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets—were spotted enjoying the event.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Rodri discussed the injury that has kept him sidelined since City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal in September. He acknowledged that injuries are part of an athlete’s life but emphasized his positive mindset, saying he uses the time to focus on other aspects, such as spending more time with family and strengthening his body for a stronger return.
Despite initial expectations that he would miss the entire season, Rodri has been included in City’s squad for the Champions League knockout stages, raising hopes of a potential comeback. However, he is unlikely to feature in the upcoming clash against Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.
When asked about watching matches from the sidelines, the Spanish midfielder admitted he finds it difficult, feeling more nervous due to his lack of control over the game. However, he supports his teammates by offering insights and encouragement.
Without Rodri, Manchester City has struggled in the Premier League, dropping to fifth place with 41 points, behind Liverpool, Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, and Chelsea. Many believe his absence has played a significant role in the team’s underwhelming form.
In response to his injury, City signed former Barcelona academy player Nico González from Porto for £50.2 million. However, González also suffered an injury just 22 minutes into his debut against Leyton Orient in the FA Cup, leaving his availability for the Real Madrid match uncertain.
City included three of their January signings—González, Abdukodir Khusanov, and Omar Marmoush—in their Champions League squad, but 19-year-old Brazilian Vitor Reis, who arrived from Palmeiras for £29.4 million, was left out.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid is also dealing with injury concerns, with David Alaba, Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão, and Antonio Rüdiger all unavailable. Rüdiger was recently ruled out for approximately 20 days, leaving manager Carlo Ancelotti likely to rely on 21-year-old academy graduate Raúl Asencio and midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni to handle City’s att
acking threats.
