Bentancur: “The injury matured me mentally” | Matchday programme exclusive

Such an influential player since his move from Juventus a year prior, Rodrigo had been in fine form and had scored his fifth goal in the 2022/23 Premier League that afternoon, but the dreaded words ‘ruptured anterior cruciate ligament’ cut a first full season of so much promise painfully short.

Faced with a lengthy spell on the sidelines, his resilience and determination as well as the love and support from his loved ones and those at the Club played a crucial role in his successful return to action over eight months later.

Even after an unrelated injury incurred just after his comeback, Rodrigo pressed on with a positive mindset and is now once again back in the thick of the action as a key midfield general for us.

Speaking exclusively in the matchday programme for this weekend’s game against Wolves, just over a year on since that day at the King Power Stadium, the Uruguay international feels as though his long, arduous recuperation has helped him mature as a person and enabled him to have a more positive outlook on life.

“With the cruciate injury, I learned a lot,” says ‘Lolo’. “I had it in my head that it was going to be a long journey and so I prepared mentally for months of recuperation.

“It was a long recovery. I think on the second or third day was when it dawned on me how long I’d be out for, I was with my girlfriend, and I think that was the only day where I had to leave the room to go and cry.

“But I had the support of my family, my loved ones and friends and the support of the Club, my team-mates and the coaching staff throughout which helped me a lot.

“I have had a resilient personality all my life, but the injury has matured me mentally as well, both professionally and in my daily life, and now I take things very positively.”

Read more from Rodrigo in Saturday’s official matchday programme – available to buy at the game, or online here.