The Etihad has never been this tense.

In an unexpected and emotionally charged admission, Pep Guardiola has confessed that “selling him was my worst mistake,” sending shockwaves not just through Manchester City, but across every major football camp in Europe. With Rodri sidelined by a sudden and severe injury crisis, City’s midfield has collapsed into uncertainty—forcing the club into emergency talks to re-sign one of their most beloved and influential former stars.

And now, the football world is in absolute chaos.

According to highly-placed insiders, Guardiola has personally pushed the board to make direct contact with the player’s representatives. The urgency is so extreme that City officials were reportedly pulled into a late-night meeting at the training complex, sparking rumors that the club is ready to activate a massive financial package just to fix what Pep calls “the biggest regret of my career.”

Fans have already begun their detective work, speculating online and turning social media into a wildfire of theories. Names like Ilkay Gündogan, Fabian Delph, Yaya Touré, and even Fernandinho began trending instantly. Supporters demanded answers. Critics accused Guardiola of poor squad planning. Rivals laughed at City’s sudden desperation.

But then came the twist that nobody saw coming.

Sources close to the negotiations revealed that the attempt to re-sign the player has been complicated by an undisclosed element—something insiders are warning could derail the entire operation. One source described it as “a clause… a condition… a detail so sensitive that even talking about it publicly could collapse the negotiations.”

That single hint sent journalists into a frenzy.

Some believe the mysterious element is a buy-back clause City failed to activate in time. Others say the player’s current club inserted a “no return to former club” condition in the contract. And the wildest rumor—yet strangely most persistent—is that the player himself made a personal promise never to return unless Guardiola stepped down.

The truth remains hidden, but one thing is clear:

Pep wants him back. And he wants him NOW.

Rodri’s injury has created the biggest tactical crisis of Guardiola’s career. Without his defensive anchor, City’s midfield has looked exposed, fragile, and painfully ordinary. The domino effect is brutal: the defense becomes shaky, the attack loses structure, and City’s ball control collapses.

Pep knows it. The players know it. The world knows it.

That’s why this admission—“Selling him was my worst mistake”—feels bigger than a quote. It feels like a confession, a plea, and a warning all at once.

For the first time in years, cracks are appearing in Guardiola’s supposedly flawless long-term strategy. Some pundits have even accused City of arrogance, believing they could replace world-class leadership with simple talent. Others claim this is karma for letting certain players walk away “too easily” in the pursuit of younger profiles.

Inside the dressing room, the mood is reportedly unsettled. One player allegedly whispered to a staff member:

“Everyone can feel the panic now.”

Outside the stadium, fans are demanding answers. Some blame the board. Some blame Guardiola. Some blame the injury curse that seems to be tearing through the squad. But almost everyone agrees on one thing: City without Rodri is City in survival mode.

And the player Guardiola wants back?

He may be the only person who can stabilize the chaos.

As internal negotiations continue behind closed doors, Etihad officials remain silent—too silent. That silence has only made the speculation louder, the pressure stronger, and the mystery even deeper.

Will the deal happen?

Will the hidden clause kill it?

Will Pep correct the “biggest mistake” of his coaching career?

One thing is certain:

This is no longer just a transfer story.

This is a rescue mission.

A redemption arc.

A crisis unfolding in real time.

And every football fan on the planet is watching.