Rodri and Erling Haaland from Manchester City returned to full training on Friday prior to their Premier League collision with Wolves, Pep Guardiola confirmed.
Rodri, who won the Ballon d'Or from 2024, has been missing for the citizens since the collection of a front cruciate ligament injury (ACL) injury against Arsenal in September.
The absence of the Spain International has been cited as an important reason for the decline of the city in form that they have seen missing on a record-expanding fifth Premier League title.
The Guardiola team has indeed lost 16 games at the top of the top when Rodri was not available, with nine of those losses in 2024-25.
Haaland also returned to training after an ankle injury sustained in the FA Cup quarte final victory of the city in March to Bournemouth in March.
The 24-year-old has 30 goals this season in 40 performances in all competitions.
Guardiola added that Haaland would probably not appear against wolves, while he was not sure if Rodri would play for the club this season.
“We are very happy that Erling is back, that Rodri is back in the training sessions,” Guardiola told reporters on Thursday.
“The moment the physio and doctor say that Rodri can start playing minutes, he will start playing minutes. But the doctors have to tell me.
“It was a difficult injury. It was seven months to eleven months, more or less, the doctors said.
“He feels really good. Every day he makes sessions and sessions, but we have to take the step to prevent them from taking a step back and being injured again.”
Pep We are very satisfied with Erling [Haaland] And Rodri are back in the training sessions. The moment the physio and doctor say they can start playing minutes, they start playing. The doctors have to tell me. [They’re] Difficult injuries – seven to 11 months out. The doctors … pic.twitter.com/sdi3gzktas
– Manchester City (@Mancity) May 1, 2025
The potential return of Rodri and Haaland before the end of the season will be an important boost for City, who hope to end the campaign in the Champions League places.
The Guardiola team is in fourth place in the Premier League table with four more games, with a top-five finish that ensures them to compete in Europe Elite competition in the next term.
They welcome in-form wolves in the Etihad Stadium on Friday, with the side of Vitor Pereira enjoying a six-game extraction run, the joint series on each side this season.
Although City has won eight of their last nine Premier League matches against Wolves, Guardiola expects a tough test for his players.
“I am not surprised [by Wolves’ form]”Said Guardiola.” In recent years I think they have always had really good players, and now they have had an incredible run.
“It's pretty similar when Newcastle came a month ago and Aston Villa came. It's another final for us. We have four finals, and now we are going for the first.”