Rodri stands by Manchester City's innocence in financial case
Former Manchester City midfielder Rodri says he will keep trusting the club over its financial rules case until guilt is proven, pointing to a similar situation in 2020 that ended in acquittal. City are appealing a ruling that found them guilty of breaching most of 115 alleged financial rule violations.
Rodri, who left Manchester City for Barcelona in August, has said he continues to believe the club are innocent of financial wrongdoing and will keep trusting them unless proven otherwise.
The 30-year-old midfielder made the comments at a news conference ahead of Spain's Uefa Nations League match against England at Wembley. Manchester City were recently found guilty by the Premier League of breaching the majority of 115 financial rules they had been accused of violating, though the club intend to appeal the decision.
Drawing on past experience
Rodri said the club's leadership had always expressed confidence in their own innocence to the players, and that this reassurance is why he trusts them. He pointed to a precedent from 2020, when the Court of Arbitration for Sport cleared City of separate financial fair play charges after Uefa had initially handed the club a two-year ban from European competition.
According to Rodri, that earlier case followed a similar pattern — an initial finding of guilt followed by eventual acquittal — even though the accusations involved were different. He said this history strengthens his faith in the justice process and in the club's innocence.
Titles won't be erased, Rodri says
During the period covered by the Premier League case, City won eight trophies, including three league titles, three League Cups, a Community Shield and an FA Cup. Rodri rejected suggestions the club could be stripped of any of these titles as punishment, arguing that what the team achieved was earned through effort and unity rather than money. He added that he feels privileged to have been part of what he considers one of the best eras in English football.
