Rodri set for Etihad Stadium return! Newly-crowned Ballon d'Or winner to receive special ovation ahead of Man City's Premier League meeting with Tottenham as ACL injury recovery continues

At a prestigious ceremony held at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, Rodri received the iconic Ballon d’Or trophy from George Weah, the 1995 winner of the award and a former City striker. Ballon d'Or glory highlights Rodri's dominance last season, with the midfielder surpassing top contenders such as Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham, and fellow Spaniard Dani Carvajal to claim the honour.

Before this Saturday's clash with Tottenham, Rodri will be presented with his Ballon d’Or trophy again on the pitch, offering supporters a chance to celebrate his incredible feat. As part of the celebrations, the club are offering free Rodri shirt printing at the Etihad Stadium and the Arndale CityStores ahead of the match on Saturday and continuing into Sunday.

Rodri has been recovering in Spain following surgery for an ACL injury sustained during a 2-2 draw against Arsenal in September, and this will be his first return to the Etihad since. His absence has coincided with a rough patch for Guardiola’s side, who recently suffered an unprecedented run of four consecutive defeats. The reigning champions endured back-to-back losses in the Premier League against Bournemouth and Brighton and also lost to Ruben Amorim's Sporting CP in the Champions League.

Saturday’s encounter with Tottenham represents a tough challenge for City. Spurs have proven themselves a formidable opponent, who recently knocked them out of the Carabao Cup. It will be an opportunity to find out if Guardiola has managed to find a recovery blueprint to bring back the Cityzens on the winning track during the two-week international break.