Rodri insists his return to fitness will not automatically turn Manchester City into the dominant force of old.

“I’m not Messi,” the Ballon d’Or winner said after making his first Premier League start for City in 11 months in the team’s 2-1 loss at Brighton on Sunday.

Rodri was out for eight months with an ACL injury, then suffered a setback in his bid to recover full fitness by sustaining a groin injury at the Club World Cup. He was a second-half substitute against Tottenham before starting against Brighton. City lost both games.