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Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino has claimed that Rodri "will never be the player he was before his ACL injury" as the Manchester City star looks to rediscover his top form.

The Spaniard has been one of the great figures in Pep Guardiola's dominant side, scoring the winning goal when they claimed the Champions League in 2023. A year later and he spearheaded Spain's Euro 2024 triumph, which saw him land the Ballon d'Or.

But months later and Rodri was dealt a season-ending blow when an ACL injury against Arsenal effectively cost him the year. He made a comeback late in the campaign and is now looking to get back up to speed.

City though have been inconsistent and Cascarino fears Rodri's best days are now past him. He wrote in The Times that "bad things happen in football, and Rodri is in decline".

The Manchester outfit were embarrassed on Tuesday night as Bodo/Glimt beat them 3-1 in the Champions League - with Rodri sent-off. "City’s defeat by Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday laid bare his shortcomings," claimed Cascarino, who felt he was seeing an increased number of errors from the midfielder, but hoped he would be proved wrong.

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Rodri once went 74 matches without losing for City across 2023 and 2024, but has had to stomach several defeats recently as the team's inconsistency halts their ambitions of challenging Arsenal for the title. Guardiola is in the midst of a rebuild - and Rodri was expected to be central to it.

The Catalan has attempted to ease his midfielder back into action. After the derby loss at the weekend he said: “Rodri will play better and then everyone will play better when the team will play better. Of course, he comes from 18 months out, it’s normal that you need the time."

Rodri boasts a stellar CV and admits his biggest win is simply being able to play after his huge rehab process.

“For me it’s a gift,” he said recently. “What I’ve been through has been terrible for me so winning, drawing, losing – for me right now, everything is a gift. To play, have the joy of the game and recover the smile, and the rest will come, the victories, successes for the team.

“Right now, it’s about staying fit and enjoying football. I went through the process of where you have to adjust the body in terms of muscle. I feel strong. I need the rhythm of games but for the moment of the season we’re in and where I came from I feel good.”

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