Manchester City have confirmed influential midfielder Rodri, 28, suffered a ligament injury in his right knee during their 2-2 draw with Arsenal last Sunday. The Spaniard limped off in the first half at the Etihad Stadium and has since been in Spain consulting specialists.
In a statement on Wednesday, the club said, “Assessment remains ongoing to ascertain the full extent of the injury and expected prognosis.” Early indications are that Rodri could miss the rest of the season – a potential blow for City’s Premier League title defence and their Champions League campaign.
Manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged the gravity of Rodri’s absence, describing him as “irreplaceable” after their 2-1 League Cup win over Watford on Tuesday. “When a team doesn’t play with the best midfielder in the world for a long time, it’s a big blow,” Guardiola said. “But my duty is to find a solution so that we remain competitive.”
Rodri has been instrumental in City’s recent successes, which include the claim for another Premier League crown, and had a great time with Spain in the EURO 2024 win. He will be a big miss in this midfield.