Rodri says it could be "months" before he is back to his best form, having missed the majority of the 2024-25 season with a serious knee injury.

The Spain international suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury while playing for Manchester City against Arsenal last September and made his return as a substitute at the end of the Premier League season against Bournemouth.

He has since featured off the bench in City's two Club World Cup matches as he continues to return to fitness, managing 59 minutes so far.

Pep Guardiola hinted that Rodri could make his first start in nine months in their final group game against Juventus on Thursday.

However, the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner said that while he feels he is in a good position after his recovery, he will not be back to his best immediately.

"I feel very, very strong, to be honest," said Rodri.

"The process was long, but I was taking my time. The most important thing was to keep focused and be strong.

"Don't be sad or whatever. One day I'll come back, and this day has finally come, and I'm very excited to play again.

"I know it's still going to be months until I reach my level, but I'm so happy."

City struggled to fill the gap left by Rodri last season, with many onlookers putting their problems down to his absence.

Rodri has missed 53 Premier League games since joining City in July 2019, with 35 of those coming last season. Guardiola's side average 1.8 points per game when he is out, compared to 2.4 when the midfielder plays.

The Citizens' win percentage also drops to 54.7% when he is not included, while they concede 1.1 goal per game without him (0.8 with him on the pitch).

However, Rodri insisted it was too simple to say that was City's only issue last term.

"Well, it's a very simplistic analysis," he added.

"It is clear, as I have always said, that in the past we have also had important losses, and the team gets over it.

"Whenever there are players missing, the team can get over it. But in the end, it is a season in which there are many more conditions that gave that feeling, not so much the results, but the team's feeling.

"My mission is to try to return to the individual level, and that the group can take the best from me, especially the leadership and the captaincy that I can show now, now that I am one of the three captains.

"Above all, I want to raise the morale of my team, which has been a winner, and I am sure we will do it again."