The Spanish star Rodri, midfielder for Manchester City and winner of the Ballon d'Or, expressed his great happiness at returning to participate with the team after a long absence due to injury.

Rodri said in his statements: "I feel good and very happy to be here, it's a wonderful tournament through which I start my return to playing football again, and I am very excited to rejoin the team."

He added: "Honestly, I feel very strong, the recovery period was long, but I took my time completely, the most important thing was to maintain my focus and mental strength, and not to give in to sadness or frustration."

He continued: "I was always confident that I would return, and finally, that day has come, I know that I will need a few more months to regain my true level, but just returning makes me extremely happy."

Rodri missed most of the competitions of the 2024/2025 season after suffering a serious knee injury last September, which was a significant blow to Manchester in a season that saw a relative decline in performance compared to previous seasons.