Rodri makes surprise Man City return ahead of Tottenham Hotspur clash

Manchester City midfielder Rodri returned to training to see his teammates on Friday ahead of Saturday evening's clash with Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

The Spaniard has been missing from the City squad since September when he suffered a cruciate ligament tear during the draw with Arsenal. The injury ruled the 28-year-old out of action for what is likely to be the remainder of the season.

However Rodri has set himself the optimistic timeline of returning for the Club World Cup next summer. While out of action, the midfielder claimed one of the biggest accolades in world football as he won the Ballon d'Or last month pipping Real Madrid duo Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham to the prize.

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Sadly when a player is sidelined with injury, they are often cut adrift from their teammates on a day-to-day basis as they continue their recovery away from the main group. But, in a nice boost for City, Rodri visited the group with his Ballon d'Or.

He was embraced by his teammates, including Erling Haaland and manager Pep Guardiola, who signed a new contract this week. After reacquainting himself with them, Rodri joined the coaching staff on the training pitch as the Blues went through their final drills before this evening's big clash with Spurs in the Premier League.

In a clip shared on X, previously Twitter, the midfielder told the rest of the City squad: "I don't know what to say guys, it's a privilege to meet with you. I was missing you a lot, two months without coming here.

"It's a privilege for us to win this. So, so happy to come back, I follow you. You guys are my family, and this [the Ballon d'Or] is for the club, for you guys."

Before the international break, City lost four games on the spin and currently sit five points behind leaders Liverpool at the top of the Premier League. That gap will drop to just two points with a victory over Ange Postecoglou's side but they have already gotten the better of Guardiola's men this season in the Carabao Cup.

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Manchester City wrapped up the 2023/24 season with a fourth successive Premier League title, but they missed out on another Treble with defeat in the FA Cup final and Champions League quarter-finals. It's now time for Pep Guardiola and co to turn their attention to the transfer window.

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