Manchester City's midfielder Rodri is set to miss a significant amount of time due to a knee injury, according to manager Pep Guardiola. The club is currently awaiting a definitive diagnosis from doctors, expected by Wednesday, to determine the severity of the injury sustained by the Spanish international.
Guardiola, speaking after City's League Cup victory over Watford, noted, "Still we don’t have the definitive [diagnosis] but he will be out for a long time - a while. But there are some opinions that maybe it will be less than we expected." He also mentioned the uncertainty surrounding the extent of the injury, adding, "One doctor says big, big injury, one not as much."
Rodri was substituted in the 21st minute during Manchester City’s 2-2 Premier League draw against Arsenal after injuring his right knee. The 28-year-old appeared to twist the joint during a collision with Arsenal’s Thomas Partey at a corner.
Rodri traveled to Spain on Monday for initial tests, but further assessments are required to fully understand the extent of the injury. Guardiola said, "We are waiting for the last phone calls from him and the doctors for what definitely he has and the type of surgery he has to get. We expect that tonight, tomorrow we will know exactly."
Rodri has been pivotal for both Manchester City and Spain, playing a crucial role in City’s successful campaign last season, where they secured their fourth consecutive Premier League title. He also helped Spain win Euro 2024, where he was named player of the tournament. Over the past 18 months, Rodri has lost just one match for club and country, also contributing to City’s Uefa Super Cup and Club World Cup victories last season.
Since his arrival from Atletico Madrid in 2019, City’s performance has been notably stronger with Rodri in the lineup. The team has lost only 11% of the games he has played, compared to 24% without him. Guardiola acknowledged the challenge of replacing him, stating, "When a team doesn’t play with the best midfielder in the world for a long, long time, it is a big blow. Yes, he’s irreplaceable. But I will find a solution."
Earlier this month, Rodri spoke about his ambitions, describing winning the Ballon d'Or as "a dream." He played 63 matches for City and Spain last season and had just returned from a hamstring injury two weeks ago. In addition, Rodri recently expressed concerns about the increasing number of games players are required to play, with an expanded Champions League format and a 32-team Club World Cup adding to the calendar.
