Former Manchester City midfielder Rodri has expressed confidence that the club will ultimately clear its name in its legal battle with the Premier League over alleged financial breaches.
Reports on Friday claimed that Manchester City had been found guilty of 114 charges brought against the club. However, the ruling has not yet been published and no sanctions have been announced.
The charges relate to alleged failures to provide accurate financial information, including details of payments to players and coaches, as well as alleged breaches of financial sustainability regulations.
The development has sparked speculation over possible sanctions, including a points deduction or the stripping of previous titles, although no such punishment has been confirmed.
Rodri, speaking at a press conference ahead of Spain’s Nations League meeting with England, said the situation reminded him of the club’s legal battle with UEFA in 2020.
“We went through an identical process in 2020,” Rodri said, recalling how the club had reassured players that it had complied with the rules. Manchester City successfully appealed its UEFA punishment at the Court of Arbitration for Sport after initially receiving a two-year ban from European competitions.
Rodri said he continued to trust the club’s position and expected a similar outcome in the Premier League case.
The midfielder spent five seasons at Manchester City, scoring the winning goal in the club’s 2023 Champions League final victory and helping the team win 12 major trophies before joining Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in 2025.
The 30-year-old also spoke about the Ballon d’Or, saying individual awards should be viewed as a product of collective success rather than personal campaigning.
Rodri, who won the award in 2024 after helping Spain claim the European Championship, said his focus remained on performances on the pitch rather than publicly promoting his candidacy.
The Spain midfielder also said the national team remained motivated for further success after winning the 2023 Nations League and Euro 2024.
“We are motivated to win another title,” Rodri said ahead of Spain’s Nations League campaign.
