Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a severe knee injury, a major setback to the club’s ambitions of securing a fifth consecutive Premier League title.
Manager Pep Guardiola confirmed that the Spain international, who sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during last week’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal, underwent surgery on Friday.
“He had surgery this morning, ACL and some meniscus,” Guardiola said. “He’ll be back next season. This one is over for him.”
Rodri, a key player for City, will be greatly missed by Guardiola, who is also aiming to reclaim the Champions League title. Speaking ahead of City’s Premier League clash with Newcastle, Guardiola called the news devastating, emphasizing the vital role of the midfielder, whom he has described as “irreplaceable.”
“We need to adapt as a team and figure out how to play for months without such a crucial player,” he said. “Everyone knows how important he is. We wish him a speedy recovery, and he’ll be back to compete next season. We are stronger with him, as well as with Nathan Ake and Oscar Bobb.”
Rodri was instrumental in City’s push to edge out Arsenal for a fourth straight Premier League title last season and was named player of the tournament at Euro 2024, where Spain emerged victorious.
City’s last four Premier League defeats all occurred in games where Rodri was absent. The 28-year-old, seen as a potential Ballon d’Or candidate, is unbeaten in his last 52 league appearances, dating back to February 2023.
With City currently leading the Premier League, Guardiola noted that there are several options within his squad, such as Mateo Kovacic, who could serve as a direct replacement. He also mentioned Ilkay Gundogan, John Stones, and Manuel Akanji as potential alternatives.
Regarding a possible move in the January transfer window, Guardiola said, “We’ll talk to Txiki (Begiristain, Director of Football) and assess the situation. The window is closed until January, so we’ll take our time and evaluate any issues.”
Rodri, who joined City in 2019, had already endured a challenging start to the season, missing the club’s first four matches, including the Community Shield, due to a hamstring injury.
Just last week, Rodri was among several top players voicing concerns about the increasing fixture demands on elite footballers, warning that a player strike could be on the horizon due to the congested schedule.
In addition to Rodri’s absence, City will also be without Kevin De Bruyne for their trip to Newcastle as the Belgian midfielder continues his recovery from injury.
