Manchester City star and Ballon d’Or favorite Rodri limped off the Etihad Stadium pitch on Sunday following what appeared to be a non-contact knee injury early in City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal, and now the Premier League champions have confirmed that it is a long-term knee ligament injury.
Pep Guardiola said Tuesday that Rodri will be out for a “long, long time” and requires surgery, and several reports say that the injury could cost the 28-year-old the entire season. Guardiola said there is hope for options that shorten his absence.
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It all seemed so innocuous, as City led 1-0 against Arsenal and were attacking a corner kick for a second goal. Rodri was jostling for position with Thomas Partey when his left knee appeared to buckle while planting on the grass inside the 18.
The Spaniard was immediately in distress, feeling around the perimeter of his knee while Man City players signaled feverishly for trainers.
Rodri was replaced by Mateo Kovacic in the 21st minute. Less than two minutes later, Riccardo Calafiori scored to tie the game in Manchester. The heated battle ended in a 2-2 draw but it was Rodri’s injury which promises to be more influential in the title race.
Rodri injury update — Reports say Spaniard could miss season
Speaking on Tuesday, Pep Guardiola confirmed that Rodri needs surgery.
“Still, we don’t have the definitive. He’ll be out for a long time, a while, but there is some opinions that maybe it will be less than we expect,” Guardiola said.
“Unfortunately he was injured. Right now, still, I cannot tell you [how long] because we’re waiting the last phone calls from him and the doctors to know exactly what, definitely, he has and the type of surgery that he has to get.”
“We don’t want this, but we will still have a good season. I trust a lot in my players, I have a duty to find a solution.
“Rodri is irreplaceable and the team won’t play with the best midfielder in the world for a long, long time. Of course it’s a big, big blow for us.
“But it’s football, it’s happened, and my duty is to find a solution, to be competitive like we have been for many years.”
Our colleague David Ornstein at The Athletic wrote this:
“Tests have confirmed the severity of the injury, and while further examinations will take place in Spain, there is still no official timeline for his recovery. However, sources close to the player have suggested he may be sidelined for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign.”
A hamstring injury plus a long EURO run with Spain meant Rodri’s season with City has been off to a slow start. He had played just 135 minutes for the club including 90 against Inter Milan in the Champions League at midweek.
Rodri has played in at least 33 Premier League matches each season for Man City since arriving from Atletico Madrid prior to the 2019-20 season.
