Former Manchester City midfielder Rodri has insisted that the club's players' success cannot be taken away, despite reports on Friday afternoon that the club has been found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules. Outlets reported that City was found guilty on all but one of the 115 charges laid by the league in February 2023.
Rodri, who left the Etihad Stadium this summer, addressed the topic at a press conference ahead of Spain's Nations League match against England. The Barcelona midfielder stated, "What we did, they cannot take it out of us. It is something that is not paid by money, it is paid with effort, with partnership and with being shoulder to shoulder every day." He added, "everything was deserved and I’m glad I could live one of the best eras of English football."
Manchester City has consistently denied the charges, with a spokesperson indicating that "significant elements" of their legal case with the Premier League are still ongoing. Rodri referenced a similar judicial process in 2020, where City successfully overturned a two-year ban from European football imposed by Uefa after an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. He expressed belief in the club's innocence and the justice system, stating, "Until the moment they are proved wrong, we believe in the club. I’ve been there, I know how they work, and how they co-operate."