Rodri sets sights on Man City return this season with bold target

Rodri is aiming for a return this season in what would be ahead of schedule.

Manchester City have resigned themselves to being without the Ballon d'Or winner for the whole of the season after he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal back in September. Pep Guardiola has also warned that there may be more injury troubles next season as the player gets used to matches again.

However, his recovery is going well with Rodri set to come to Manchester in January to work on the next part of his rehabilitation after spending the first part at home with friends and family in Spain. The midfielder recently dropped into the club's training ground and was then honoured for his Ballon d'Or win before the Premier League game with Spurs.

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City's league campaign comes to an end on May 25 and the Champions League final is six days later, while the Club World Cup will be played from mid-June until mid-July. Rodri has not given up hope of playing for the club before the season is out as he sets himself an ambitious recovery plan.

"My target is to come back this season. I think in terms of my mentality it's going to be positive for me to not give up the season and throw it," he told The Rest is Football podcast.

"I don't want to run, you know, I don't want to make mistakes. But yeah, that's my mentality. I don't know when - my target is six, seven months, but the physios, they will dictate."

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