Rodri, who ended his seven-year spell at the club this summer, said the success he experienced at the Etihad Stadium was built on years of collective effort and sacrifice involving players, coaches, owners and staff.
His comments came after reports that an independent panel had found Manchester City guilty of all but one of the 115 charges brought against the club by the Premier League.
The case has attracted significant attention because of the potential consequences for City if sanctions are ultimately imposed. Possible punishments could include substantial points deductions, financial penalties and, in the most severe circumstances, relegation.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the case, Rodri expressed his continued belief in the club and defended the achievements he and his former teammates secured during his time in Manchester.
“When you live daily in that club and all the people that worked hard all these years to have all the success we have had, not only Pep [Guardiola] and the players, but from the owners to the guys that work daily, what we did they cannot take it out of us,” Rodri said.
The Spanish midfielder, who became a central figure in Manchester City’s success under manager Pep Guardiola, stressed that the club’s accomplishments were the result of sustained commitment rather than simply financial investment.
“It is not something that is paid by money, it is paid with effort and partnership, being shoulder to shoulder every day,” he said.
Rodri’s seven years at City saw him become one of the most influential players in the club’s history, while playing a key role in a period of sustained domestic and European success.
Reflecting on that period, the midfielder said he remained proud of the achievements he shared with the club and his teammates.
“We had a lot of success over the years and I can tell you that everything was deserved and I am glad I could live one of the best eras in English football,” Rodri said.
The verdict, and any eventual punishment, could have major implications for Manchester City and the record of the period in which the club established itself as one of the dominant forces in English football.
For Rodri, however, the memories and personal achievements of those years remain beyond the reach of any potential sanction.