Rodri's Drone Antics: Man City Star Buzzes Neighbours into a Fury

Picture this: you're Rodri, the Ballon d'Or-winning midfield maestro, chilling in your swanky Salford penthouse after bossing the Premier League. What's the harm in whizzing a drone around for a bit of fun? Well, turns out your high-rise neighbours aren't buzzing with joy – they've called the cops, accusing the Manchester City star of turning their skyline pad into a peeping tom's paradise.

As reported by our mates at Goal.com, the Spain international's nocturnal drone flights have residents up in arms. We're talking the unmanned gadget hovering just metres from bedroom windows, flashing green lights like some sci-fi invader. For folks living on the 34th floor, expecting peace and quiet at altitude, this is about as welcome as a VAR check in the 90th minute.

High-Rise Hobby Turns Heads (the Wrong Way)

Rodri, who swapped Atletico Madrid for the Etihad in a £63 million deal back in 2019, fancies himself a drone pilot in his downtime. But locals in this city-centre tower block say his hobby's crossed the line – literally. Photos circulating in the building's WhatsApp groups allegedly show the 29-year-old on his balcony, controller in hand, sending the whirlybird perilously close to their pads.

One neighbour, a lorry driver perched high above the fray, spilled the beans to The Sun. "We're watching the telly, and suddenly there's this drone a metre from the window," he fumed. His missus is proper rattled, he says – the whole point of living sky-high is no prying eyes, yet here comes Rodri's flying eye-in-the-sky, plaguing their evenings.

Another tenant reckoned it smacked of voyeurism, with his girlfriend dialling the non-emergency line to report the ongoing nuisance. The concierge has been fielding complaints left, right, and centre, and now the whole block's on red alert every time those green lights flicker in the night.

Cops Called, CAA Rules in the Spotlight

Under UK drone laws, you've got to keep your plaything away from people and property, respect privacy, and if it's over 250g, register it and pass a theory test. Fly too close, cause a nuisance, or worse, and you're in bother with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Greater Manchester Police are now "making enquiries" – no arrests yet, but the scrutiny's a far cry from Rodri's usual low-key vibe off the pitch.

For a player who's all about quiet dominance in the engine room – think those metronomic passes and tactical nous that helped City lift trophies galore – this is a bizarre sideshow. Especially with a crucial run of fixtures looming, where Pep's lads can't afford distractions. Imagine the dressing room banter: "Oi Rodri, fancy a drone assist from the balcony?"

Residents are crying harassment, blending aviation regs with privacy woes. It's the kind of drama that'd make for a cracking Netflix doc – Footballers' Follies: Drones Over Salford. But seriously, in a city where City's dominance is the real headline, this neighbourly scrap adds a cheeky footnote.

City's Star in the Dock – What's Next?

Rodri's kept schtum so far, true to his unflappable style on the park. Will this fizzle out like a mis-hit free-kick, or escalate to fines and fly-bans? Police enquiries could drag on, but with Manchester City chasing silverware, expect the focus to snap back to the pitch pronto.

Neighbours want the flights grounded, pronto. One thing's clear: high-flying hobbies in high-rises need a low profile. For now, Rodri might swap the drone for a PlayStation – less chance of coppers knocking.

Fancy more Premier League gossip? Stick with TheFootball.News for the latest from the Etihad and beyond. What's your take – overreaction or fair cop?