'Never spoke' - Man City boss Pep Guardiola sends Spain message after Rodri call-up

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been called up by Spain manager Luis de la Fuente for internationals next week.

Rodri has played 15 minutes for Manchester City so far this season

Pep Guardiola revealed he had no contact with Spain boss Luis de la Fuente before Rodri was named in his squad for World Cup qualifiers against Bulgaria and Turkey.

The Ballon d'Or winner has played just 15 minutes of football in the first two games of the season as he continues to get up to speed after injuring his anterior cruciate ligament 11 months ago.

Rodri was back in action at the end of last season and featured in the Club World Cup, but he limped out of the defeat to Al-Hilal and is continuing to work his way back to fitness.

The 29-year-old is unlikely to start for City at Brighton on Sunday, with Guardiola easing him back in and hoping he will be closer to starting in the fixtures against Manchester United and Arsenal after the international break.

Although he revealed he hadn't spoken to De la Fuente, Guardiola had no issues with Rodri being called up but said he expects him to return from Spain's two away games without a setback.

"I never spoke with the manager from Spain, never. But I spoke with Rodri," said Guardiola. "Of course, he feels better and needs minutes.

"I think they talk to each other and they decide to select him. When a player is fit, I always support to go to the national team."

The most minutes Rodri has managed in a game since his injury is 66 against Juventus in the Club World Cup, but that came before his setback in the same tournament.

Nico Gonzalez has started ahead of him for City this season, and Rodri might have to settle for more minutes off the bench this weekend, but Guardiola's plan is for him to be in a stronger position come the middle of September.

"For me, it's fine. So the national team from Spain select him because they talk to each other and it's because they believe he can go," he said.

"All we ask if come back fit, it's only what we want. It's been a long time, but he's trained for the last two weeks, three weeks. I said when I was in Italy that Rodri will be - and everything is going well - after the international break will be better. And we will try the games against Wolves, against Spurs, against Brighton, a few minutes."

Rayan Ait-Nouri will be available for City's trip to Brighton after scans on an ankle injury that forced him off against Tottenham showed no damage, but Savinho will still be absent.

The winger is set to stay at the Etihad despite eyeing up a move to Tottenham in recent weeks, and Guardiola expects the 21-year-old to be back in action after the international break.

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