Ballon d'Or winner Rodri is aiming to return earlier than expected from his anterior cruciate ligament injury as Manchester City struggle.

The Spain international has since provided a positive update on his recovery and has revealed that he is refusing to 'give up' in his quest to return before the season draws to a close. "My target is to come back this season," Rodri told Gary Lineker and Micah Richards on The Rest Is Football podcast.

Rodri targets a return to Manchester City before the season ends, despite facing a lengthy recovery from his injury.

Rodri also said he did not approve of Real Madrid and Vinicius Jr’s decision to miss last month’s Ballon d’Or ceremony. The Spanish club cancelled their trip to the Paris awards night after it emerged Rodri had won the vote for the individual prize.

Ballon d'Or winner Rodri is hopeful he will play again this season after sustaining ACL damage. The Manchester City midfielder was expected to be out for the rest of the campaign following surgery in September,

Manchester City's injured midfielder Rodri says he wants to return to action to help his team-mates before the end of the season.

Manchester City's Rodri said he is aiming to return from a serious knee injury before the end of the current campaign despite the Spanish midfielder being ruled out for the season in September. Rodri,