Former Manchester City midfielder Rodri has stepped up to support the club following the independent commission's ruling regarding alleged breaches of Premier League financial regulations. City were found guilty on all but one of the original 115 charges.
The club staunchly denies any wrongdoing and is expected to appeal the decision. The Premier League has yet to announce what sanctions, if any, will follow.
Rodri, who made a summer switch to Barcelona, expressed unwavering belief in his former club's innocence. He recalled the 2020 proceedings when Manchester City faced serious allegations.
The midfielder stated:
We’ve faced something similar back in 2020. There was a similar trial then, although the accusations were different. Initially, we were found guilty, but we believed in our club’s innocence. In the end, we were cleared.
So I trust in the justice system and I believe in the club’s innocence.
Rodri stressed that the financial investigation should not undermine the team's sporting achievements:
When you’re with the club every day and see how hard people work for success — not just Pep Guardiola and the players, but the entire structure from the owners to the staff — you can’t take away what we’ve achieved.
You can’t buy that. It’s a result of effort, partnership, and daily teamwork. We’ve had many successful years.
I can only say that everything we earned was deserved. I’m proud to have been part of one of the greatest eras in English football history.
According to the 30-year-old, Manchester City's hierarchy has always assured the players that the club did not break any rules.
Rodri added:
They always told us how confident they were in their innocence. When you look someone in the eyes and they speak with such conviction, you believe them. Especially since we had the 2020 case as a precedent, where things unfolded in a similar way, and ultimately nothing happened.
We approached this very calmly. I’ve never seen the team get nervous over this situation.
The Spaniard further reaffirmed his trust in his former club's stance:
Of course, everyone should follow the rules. But the club has always confidently told us that they did nothing wrong, and we believed that.
Until proven otherwise, we will believe the club. I was there and I know how they operate and interact with each other. That’s all I can say.
Manchester City originally faced the allegations in February 2023, concerning supposed financial rule breaches from 2009 to 2018. The club is now awaiting decisions on potential sanctions.
