Non-league club troll Rodri as Man City man faces months out injured

Non-league club Hashtag United have brutally warned Manchester City star Rodri that he would struggle to play at their level. The Spaniard, who is likely to spend the remainder of the season out through injury, recently raised concerns over the growing number of matches being added to the football calendar.

Essex-based Hashtag were responding to a post on social media platform X which referenced Rodri’s likely long-term absence and reports suggesting City will face a strong punishment if they are found guilty of 115 Premier League charges.

“Rodri returning from injury and seeing their next game is Hashtag United,” the original post read, alongside a GIF of a man appearing shocked.

Hashtag responded: “Rodri wouldn’t play non-league, there’s 60-70 games in a season… on top of a full-time job.”

There are fears that Rodri suffered a serious ACL injury during City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sunday. It comes just a week after the 28-year-old warned players will strike over a widening football calendar.

“Yes, I think we are close to [striking]. If it keeps this way we will have no other option. It is something that worries us,” Rodri said.

“Between 40 and 50 is the amount of games in which a player can perform at the highest level. After that you drop because it is impossible to sustain the physical level. This year we are maybe going to go until 70 or maybe 80. In my humble opinion, I think it is too much.”

He urged the football authorities: “Someone has to take care of us because we are the main characters of this, let’s say, sport, or business, whatever you want to call it.

“Not everything is about money or marketing. It is about the quality of the show. In my opinion, when I am not tired I perform better. If people want to see better football then we need to rest.”

The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) has confirmed it is joining FIFPro in taking legal action against FIFA over fixture congestion.

“As unions, we are already taking legal action to challenge this and players are now openly talking about what options are available to them to force change,” PFA president Maheta Molango said. “They want to be listened to, and those who run the game must now sit up and take notice.”