Manchester City star Rodri 'excited' to get back playing 'but the priority now is to tackle the virus'

'I'd say to City fans that we ready to enjoy football again'

City players celebrate after Jesus levels the scores against Real Madrid in February. City won the match 2-1. EPA

Referee Daniele Orsato shows Sergio Ramos the red card dafter his foul on Jesus. Getty

Real Madrid's Isco celebrates scoring their goal with Vinicius Junior and Sergio Ramos. Reuters

Manchester City's Raheem Sterling is fouled by Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal resulting in a penalty. Reuters

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne scores from the penalty spot. Reuters

City's Gabriel Jesus celebrates scoring their first goal with Riyad Mahrez and teammates. Reuters

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak (second left) and other officials applaud after the final whistle. PA

City players celebrate at the end of the first leg and a famous win. EPA

Real Madrid's Carlos Casemiro, Gareth Bale and Dani Carvajal at the end of the first leg. EPA

Real Madrid's Welsh forward Gareth Bale looks downcast after Manchester City's second goal. AFP

Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos brings down Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus and is sent off for a professional foul. PA

Rodri said Manchester City’s players are raring to return to action and are just waiting for football to get the go ahead to be played.

The Premier League will have a meeting on Monday as clubs discuss Project Restart, with proposals to play again in June.

The British government has encouraged them, with Cabinet ministers Dominic Raab and Oliver Dowden saying they would welcome a resumption of football as Britain tries to bring back a semblance of normality.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to relax the restrictions in the lockdown in the United Kingdom on Sunday and Premier League clubs who have not yet opened their training grounds are planning to bring their players back together, including those, such as Rodri, who have been abroad during the hiatus.

Rodri is adamant that the priority is dealing with coronavirus but, while his City teammate Sergio Aguero said he thought some footballers could be "scared" to play during the pandemic, the Premier League is expected to outline health protocols to try and protect everyone involved and the midfielder implied that Pep Guardiola's side are keen to take the field again.

The Spaniard said: “I'd say to Man City fans and football fans, that we are very excited to play football again, we are ready to enjoy football again and we are just waiting for the authorities to give us the green light.

“It's very difficult times for everyone, not only for football fans or sports fans. We all have families and friends who are going through difficult times, lots of people are losing their loved ones, so the most important thing now is to sort out the situation with the coronavirus.

"Once this situation is over, hopefully, we can all go back to our jobs and routines, but the priority now is to tackle the virus and sort out the situation first.”

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Midfielder Rodri joined City from Atletico Madrid last summer and returned to his homeland when football was halted.

Spain has been one of the worst affected countries by Covid-19, with more than 26,000 people losing their lives, including Guardiola’s mother Dolors.

And Rodri added: “It's a very difficult situation for everyone, not only in Spain, but around the whole world. We all have someone close, a friend or a family member, who has been touched somehow by the coronavirus, so it's not easy.

"We try to spend our time in the best way possible. I spent the lockdown with my family, as I don't have many chances to spend time with them. It was a good opportunity to be among family. We want this situation to be solved and hopefully, it will finish soon.

“Fortunately, I have a garden, so I had the chance to go outdoors a little bit, not having to stay indoors all day. Most of the time I spent it with my brothers, playing football in the garden, tennis table or in the swimming pool.

"I also used the time to do homework from my university degree, as there are exams in a few days’ time. And obviously I have been training and keeping fit.”

Rodri is only 23 but is already planning for life after football, as he explained: “I'm studying a degree in Management and Business Administration because it is a challenge for me, to start a degree and finish it. I'm sure it's going to be helpful in the future one way or another.

"You never know. When I finish my career as a player I'd like to stay in contact with the sports world, but if it doesn't happen, that’s fine too.”