Former Manchester City midfielder Rodri has publicly backed the club's stance of innocence regarding financial wrongdoing. Speaking ahead of Spain's Uefa Nations League match against England, the 30-year-old, who joined Barcelona in August, stated that he will continue to trust the club unless they are proven otherwise.
Manchester City has been found guilty by the Premier League of breaching the majority of 115 financial rules. However, the club is set to appeal this decision.
Rodri referenced a similar judicial process in 2020, where City was initially given a two-year ban from European competitions by Uefa but was later cleared of separate financial fair play charges by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. He believes this past acquittal supports the club's current confidence in their innocence. Rodri also dismissed suggestions that City could be stripped of titles, asserting that the trophies were earned through effort and cannot be taken away.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has urged the public to "study" the independent commission's report in "some considerable detail before reaching any conclusions" on the charges facing Manchester City.