'When I signed for Manchester City, people told me Pep will leave next year': Rodri discusses the longevity of Guardiola

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 22: Rodri of Manchester City and Pep Guardiola manager of Manchester City as he goes off injured during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on September 22, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Rodri and Pep (Image credit: Getty Images)

Speculation continues to circle around what the future might hold for Pep Guardiola, but Rodri is paying no attention to it: he's heard it since the moment he arrived at Manchester City.

The newly-anointed Ballon d'Or winner arrived from Atletico Madrid in 2019, when Guardiola was already three years into his spell at the Etihad Stadium.

Even then, Rodri says, there were rumours that the Catalan manager was not going to be sticking around in Manchester...o nly for him still to be there five years later.

Rodri didn't expect Guardiola to stick around at Manchester City

LISBON, PORTUGAL - NOVEMBER 05: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Sporting Clube de Portugal and Manchester City at Estadio Jose Alvalade on November 05, 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

Pep Guardiola is unsure whether or not he will stay at Manchester City past the end of the season (Image credit: Getty Images)

Guardiola is out of contract at Manchester City at the end of this season, and he still refuses to be drawn on any definitive statements about whether he will be staying or going at the end of the season, saying he hasn't made up his mind yet.

But Rodri is not too worried about it either way, telling Spanish outlet El Partidazo de Cope: "When I signed for Man City, people told me 'Pep will leave next year' and he’s been there for 5 years. He’s ambitious, it’s him deciding his future, but in any case, Man City will still be Man City."

Manchester City's Spanish midfielder Rodri kisses the trophy as he receives the Ballon d'Or award during the 2024 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 28, 2024.

Rodri scooped this year's Ballon d'Or (Image credit: FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

Rodri is particularly confident that the club can continue to compete at the most elite of elite levels with or without Guardiola thanks to the influence of their star striker, who who spoke of in glowing terms.

He said: “The most decisive player in the world in terms of numbers is Erling Haaland. He’s the only player who could come close to Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He is also very young and will be there for many years."

The midfielder went on to dismiss any speculation that the winner of the Ballon d'Or was known ahead of time, echoing the organiser's insistence that Real Madrid could not possibly have known before deciding to forgo the ceremony that Vinicius Junior was definitely missing out.

In previous years the winner has known they have the award in the bag ahead of time so as to facilitate interviews and photo shoots, but a change the proceedings this year meant the identity of the winner was kept closely under wraps.

Rodri said: “Nobody told me that I was going to win the Ballon d’Or. You go there and until the envelope is opened. If the Real Madrid team doesn't come it must be for a reason.

"But I wasn't hurt that Vinicius wasn't there Why would I be hurt? It’s not my club. I’m not my worried about that. I focus on my people, my club, my family. Real Madrid and Vinicius had their reasons ... I’d never disrespect anyone. I respect Vinicius, Real Madrid and the other one competing for the Ballon d’Or.

"Alvaro Morata always told me 'You're stupid. If you had social media you would have a Ballon d’Or'. As soon as I won it I wrote to him: 'Look, Ballon d’Or in my hands and no social media!’.

"I think I won the Ballon d'Or because I’ve been consistent. It’s the most difficult skill in football. I think I’ve been the most regular player in the world this year, yes."

Steven Chicken

Steven Chicken has been working as a football writer since 2009, taking in stints with Football365 and the Huddersfield Examiner. Steven still covers Huddersfield Town home and away for his own publication, WeAreTerriers.com. Steven is a two-time nominee for Regional Journalist of the Year at the prestigious British Sports Journalism Awards, making the shortlist in 2020 and 2023.