Manchester City have been found guilty of the majority of financial breach charges that were initially lodged against them in February 2023, yet the club continues to maintain their steadfast denial of any wrongdoing. The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner Rodri has emerged as a vocal supporter of his former club, issuing a defiant statement backing their position as they prepare for the appeal process. Speaking ahead of Spain's UEFA Nations League clash against England at Wembley on Saturday, the midfielder expressed unwavering confidence in City's integrity, emphasizing that he and others close to the organization believe in the club's proclaimed innocence until proven otherwise by due legal process.
Rodri drew a striking parallel to Manchester City's previous brush with UEFA sanctions, recalling the 2020 incident when the club faced a two-year Champions League ban and a €30 million fine for alleged Financial Fair Play violations. That initial guilty verdict was ultimately overturned when the Court of Arbitration for Sport cleared City following a successful appeal, with the financial penalty subsequently reduced to €9 million. The former Etihad midfielder highlighted this precedent as evidence that the current situation may follow a similar trajectory, noting that City went on to capture their maiden Champions League title in the 2022/23 season—a triumph that came after their initial conviction. "We have faced something similar, we had a similar judicial process," Rodri explained, drawing connections between the two cases while emphasizing his faith in both the justice system and the club's proclaimed innocence.
The 2024 World Cup winner, who departed Manchester City after seven years to join Barcelona for approximately £65.3 million during the summer, remains resolute in his conviction that City's achievements cannot be tainted by legal proceedings. The Premier League investigation scrutinized financial records spanning from the 2009/10 season through to 2017/18, a period during which City accumulated eight major trophies—including three league titles, three League Cups, one FA Cup, and one Community Shield. When questioned about the potential stripping of titles as punishment, Rodri dismissed the notion entirely, insisting that such accomplishments transcend monetary value and cannot be diminished through sanctions or legal outcomes.
"What we did, they cannot take out of us," Rodri asserted with conviction. "It's something that is not paid by money. It's paid with effort, with the damage, with, you know, being shoulder to shoulder every day." The midfielder expressed gratitude for his involvement in what he characterized as "one of the best eras of English football," emphasizing that every achievement during his tenure at City was earned through dedication and collective endeavor. With sanctions—potentially including points deductions or financial penalties—still pending determination, City remains committed to their appeal process, and players like Rodri continue standing by the club as they navigate this protracted legal battle.