At Wembley, with Spain preparing to meet England in the UEFA Nations League, Rodri returned to the subject that has followed Manchester City far beyond Manchester: the club’s long-running financial case and the possibility that its honours could be challenged.
Key takeaways
- Rodri has backed Manchester City as the club faces findings over 114 alleged Premier League rule breaches.
- The Spanish midfielder believes City’s trophies should remain intact, despite discussion of possible sanctions.
- The alleged breaches cover the period from 2009 to 2018, before Rodri joined the club in 2019.
- Possible punishments include fines, league-point deductions, suspension or expulsion, with other penalties also permitted.
- Rodri left City after last season having won 13 trophies in seven years, including the 2022-23 Champions League.
Rodri stands by his former club
Now at Barcelona, Rodri spoke in defence of his former side after an independent commission reportedly found Manchester City guilty of breaking 114 Premier League regulations. The Premier League has not yet issued a formal statement on the outcome, although the next stage is expected to concern the punishment.
Among the sanctions being considered in public discussion is the potential removal of honours won during the period covered by the case. Rodri, however, insisted that the achievements of the team should not be erased.
“I trust the justice process and I believe the club is innocent,” he said. “What we achieved cannot be taken away. It was not bought with money; it came through work, unity and being together every day. We enjoyed enormous success and it was deserved. It was one of the greatest eras in English football.”
Rodri arrived at City in 2019, after the years at the centre of the allegations. He nevertheless argued that the trophies won across that earlier span — three Premier League titles, one FA Cup, three League Cups and two Community Shields — ought to be retained.
A case stretching back more than three years
The proceedings have run for more than three years since the first accusations emerged. If the reported finding is confirmed, City will await the decision on sanctions under Premier League rules.
Those regulations allow for a wide range of disciplinary measures:
- Financial penalties
- Points deductions in the Premier League
- Suspension
- Removal from the competition
- Any further punishment deemed appropriate
That final provision has fuelled speculation that titles could be affected, although no sanction has yet been officially announced.
For Rodri, City remains a defining chapter despite his departure. Across seven seasons, he collected 13 trophies, including four Premier League crowns. His most enduring contribution came in Istanbul in 2023, when his goal secured a 1-0 victory over Inter Milan and delivered Manchester City’s first Champions League title.
