He could be ready — Guardiola offers fresh update on Ballon d'Or winner Rodri

Pep Guardiola has emphasized that Manchester City will exercise extreme caution with Rodri's return from a long-term ACL injury.

The midfielder has been sidelined since September, and his absence has significantly impacted City's performance.

Rodri has resumed individual training, but Guardiola remains guarded about his progress. When asked about the possibility of Rodri's availability for the Club World Cup, Guardiola replied, "I don't know."

He continued, "Listen, it would be nice if he played tomorrow, but don't do a wrong decision right now and make a step back.

"The injury, the doctors said seven months, eight months. [We've] arrived at six months, so he's behaving on the pitch really well already. But competition is completely different."

"We will see, step by step. I rely a lot on his word, but what the doctors say, what his physio says. Not to say 'target [Club] World Cup' and after we're going to lose you for many, many months again."

Ultimately, Guardiola's priority is Rodri's long-term health, stating, "We have to be sure that he's fine, and after he'll be involved."