Is Rodri ready for international duty? Pep Guardiola reveals his thoughts on the midfielder’s Spain call-up, fresh off an injury setback. The Man City boss shares his hopes for Rodri’s return to peak form, and what it means for the club’s vital matches. Will Rodri make a strong comeback for both club and country?

Manchester City’s midfield linchpin, Rodri, finds himself at the center of attention following his recent call-up to the Spain national team under manager Luis de la Fuente, a decision that has drawn comments from City boss Pep Guardiola regarding the player’s delicate return from injury.

Guardiola, typically meticulous in his player management, confirmed that he had no direct communication with De la Fuente prior to the announcement. Despite this, the Catalan coach expressed no objections to Rodri’s inclusion, underscoring the player’s inherent value to both club and country.

Rodri’s journey back to full fitness has been a cautious one, marked by a recent injury setback during the Club World Cup. His most extensive playing time since the injury was a 66-minute appearance against Juventus, highlighting the gradual approach to his reintroduction to the pitch.

While an immediate start against Brighton this Sunday seems unlikely, with Nico Gonzalez often preferred in his absence, Guardiola’s strategic vision involves Rodri progressively gaining more minutes from the bench. The aim is to have him in a much stronger position for the crucial fixtures against Arsenal after the upcoming international break.

Guardiola’s primary request for the Spanish national team is the safe return of his pivotal midfielder. Emphasizing the long recovery period, he conveyed his expectation that Rodri will emerge from Spain’s two away World Cup qualifiers both fit and prepared for the demanding club schedule ahead.

In other Manchester City injury news, promising updates emerged concerning Rayan Ait-Nouri. Scans on his ankle injury, sustained against Tottenham, revealed no significant damage, making him available for selection for the important trip to Brighton this weekend.

Conversely, winger Savinho will remain sidelined for City. Despite recent speculation linking him with a move to Tottenham, the 21-year-old is expected to stay at the Etihad and is projected to make his return to action following the conclusion of the international fixtures.

As the international break approaches, Manchester City faces a pivotal period, with the fitness of key players like Rodri being paramount for their ambitions in both domestic and European competitions. The careful management of his return, coupled with other squad updates, will be critical for the team’s upcoming challenges.