Rodri Hernández has rejoined the Spanish national team, fully recovered from his recent injuries, and is poised to captain the squad for their final two friendly matches before the World Cup, against Serbia and Egypt. The Manchester City midfielder recently discussed his recuperation following an anterior cruciate ligament tear that kept him off the pitch for nearly a year, compounded by subsequent setbacks. He shared a positive perspective on this period, viewing it as a valuable opportunity to slow down and “recharge his batteries.”
“If I had to choose a moment for this to occur, perhaps I would have chosen when it did… It truly benefited me to rest, to decelerate. Mentally, there was a considerable amount of exhaustion. This break allowed me to rejuvenate and return with immense enthusiasm,” Rodri explained. He further noted, “This season, I haven’t accumulated as many minutes on the field, so I’m coming back feeling much fresher.”
Rodri Considers Real Madrid Move Despite Atlético Past
The 29-year-old midfielder also addressed recent speculation regarding a potential transfer to Real Madrid. Despite his history with their fierce city rivals, Atlético Madrid, Rodri appeared quite receptive to the idea.
“I have one year remaining on my contract, so at some point, we’ll need to sit down and discuss things,” Rodri remarked. When directly questioned about the possibility of joining Real Madrid, he stated unequivocally, “even though I played for Atlético, Madrid is not a closed door for me; you simply cannot refuse the best clubs.”
Furthermore, Rodri dismissed any suggestions of animosity between himself and Vinícius Jr. beyond the natural sporting rivalry, particularly after Rodri’s Ballon d’Or win over the Brazilian winger. “They attempted to pit us against each other, but I hold deep admiration for Vinicius as a player,” he clarified.