Rodri backs Manchester City's 'innocence' after Premier League verdict
September 26, 2026 00:30
Speaking at a news conference before Spain’s Nations League match against England at Wembley, the 30-year-old — who joined Barcelona in August and made 298 appearances for City between 2018 and 2026 — said he and his former team-mates will continue to trust the club unless proven otherwise.
WHAT RODRI SAID
"They always express the confidence that they never did something wrong and we believe in that," Rodri said. "Until the moment they are proved wrong, we will believe the club. They always tell us the confidence they have on the innocence."
He pointed to Manchester City’s 2020 case as reinforcing that belief, noting the club were cleared by the Court of Arbitration for Sport after an initial two-year European ban from Uefa. "We had the example of 2020 that the process was the same and at the end nothing happened," he added, saying he believes "in the justice system, and I believe in the innocence of the club."
CONTEXT AND REACTIONS
The Premier League has found City guilty of breaking the majority of the 115 financial rules at issue; the club are set to appeal that decision. The independent commission’s report and its conclusions have prompted calls for careful scrutiny: Prime Minister Andy Burnham urged people to "study" the report "in some considerable detail before reaching any conclusions."
The period under investigation included a run in which City won eight trophies: three Premier League titles, three League Cups, one Community Shield and one FA Cup. Rodri dismissed suggestions that titles won in that era could be devalued, saying the success was achieved through effort and teamwork.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
The club intends to appeal the Premier League’s ruling. No further dates or hearings were given in the comments cited here.