Manchester City has confirmed that Rodri has suffered ligament damage to his right knee during their recent match against Arsenal. The full extent of the injury is still unclear.
The midfielder has been in Spain this week consulting with specialists after he limped off midway through the first half of Sunday’s match at the Etihad Stadium following a collision with Thomas Partey.
In an official statement, Manchester City said, “Rodri has suffered a ligament injury to his right knee, sustained during the first half of this weekend’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal.” The statement further noted that assessments are ongoing to determine the full extent of the injury and the expected prognosis.
While no specific timeline for recovery has been provided, City manager Pep Guardiola mentioned after their 2-1 League Cup victory over Watford that Rodri would be out “for a long time.” Reports suggest that the influential 28-year-old Spain international may miss the remainder of the season.
Rodri’s absence is a significant setback for City as they pursue a fifth consecutive Premier League title and aim to reclaim the Champions League trophy. Last season, he played a crucial role in helping City secure their fourth straight Premier League title and was named Player of the Tournament at Euro 2024, where Spain emerged victorious.
The defensive midfielder has lost only one match for club or country in the past 18 months the FA Cup final against Manchester United—and has been considered a potential Ballon d’Or contender.
City’s win rate in the Premier League with Rodri on the field is 74.1 percent, but it drops to 61.9 percent without him.
Guardiola acknowledged the challenge ahead, stating, “Rodri is irreplaceable. When a team doesn’t have the best midfielder in the world for a long time, it’s a big blow, but my responsibility is to find a way for us to remain competitive, as we have been for many years. When one player is irreplaceable, the team must step up.”
Rodri had already faced a challenging start to the season, missing City’s first four matches, including the Community Shield, due to a hamstring injury.
