The midfielder suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in September but is determined to defy Pep Guardiola's prediction that the issue will rule him out for the remainder of the campaign.

Rodri told 'The Rest Is Football' podcast: "My target is to come back this season. I don't give up on this season, [but] I don't want to make any mistakes. My target is six or seven months.

"I am doing much better than I thought. I am enjoying the rest, if it possible to say it that way.

"My feeling was, not like a crack, the knee was stable. I was confident it wasn't too bad. But I have a positive mentality now and that's it.

"The first month and a half was bad in terms of pain, I couldn't walk, but now it is easier."

Rodri triumphed at the Ballon d'Or ceremony last month and revealed that it has given him the "oxygen" needed to return to the pitch.

The Spain international said: "I have lived the best and worst part of my career with the Ballon d'Or and then injury, but it gives me oxygen to come back again in a good way.

"I can't describe the emotion [of winning it]. In my generation [we] only see two guys winning the trophy [Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo]."

Rodri's success was overshadowed by Real Madrid's decision to snub the ceremony in protest at Vinicius Jr's failure to win the prize and the City ace was saddened by the actions of the Spanish side.

He said: "I cannot respect the decision.

"In sport and in life, it's important to win. But I think even more how to lose, and I say always the same - it was my moment, I didn't want to speak about others.

"They didn't want to be there - I want to be with my club, with my family, the people that were there and clapped me, and that was a fantastic moment."