Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Rodri will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery for an ACL and meniscus injury. The Spanish midfielder suffered the knee injury during the 2-2 draw against Arsenal. Guardiola revealed that Rodri’s surgery took place successfully, but the road to recovery will be a long one.
“He had surgery this morning,” Guardiola said. “ACL and some meniscus. So, next season he will be here. This season is over [for him]. Unfortunately, we got the worst news, but that is what happened. We will be there to support him and move forward step by step.”
Rodri’s absence will be a significant blow for City, as Guardiola stressed the challenge of replacing a player he described as “irreplaceable.” He warned that players recovering from ACL injuries often face muscular problems even after nine months, indicating that Rodri might not return to his best until well beyond his recovery period.
“When you have an ACL injury for nine months, the year after you have muscular problems for sure,” Guardiola explained. “I think Rodri will be at his best not just in nine months, but it is what it is. As a club, we will find a solution.”
The injury has prompted discussions about City potentially entering the January transfer market to find a replacement for Rodri. “We will see,” Guardiola commented. “We talked today with Txiki [Begiristain, City’s director of football], we will see what’s going on. We don’t have to decide tomorrow, right? We have time to see the potential problems we will have, and after, we will see.”
Rodri’s importance to Guardiola’s side cannot be understated. The 28-year-old was pivotal in Manchester City’s treble-winning campaign last season, including scoring the winning goal in the Champions League final. He also played a key role in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph, where he was named the tournament’s best player. His contribution to City’s dominance is evident; all three of Manchester City’s Premier League defeats last season occurred when Rodri was unavailable.
Rodri’s injury occurred in a seemingly innocuous collision with Arsenal’s Thomas Partey in the penalty area, where his right leg jarred in the turf. The midfielder had already been involved in a confrontation with Arsenal’s Kai Havertz just seconds after kickoff, showcasing the physical nature of the match.
The timing of Rodri’s injury is a major concern for City. Not only will he miss critical league fixtures against Liverpool, Manchester United, and Aston Villa in December, but his absence may extend into a grueling stretch from late January to February, where City faces Chelsea, Arsenal, Newcastle, Liverpool, and Tottenham in quick succession.
Guardiola’s acknowledgment of Rodri’s absence as a “big, big blow” is a sentiment shared throughout the club. “Rodri is irreplaceable, and the team won’t play with the best midfielder in the world for a long, long time,” Guardiola remarked. However, he remains determined to find a solution, referencing past periods when City had to cope without key players. “Last season, we were three months without Erling [Haaland], five months without Kevin [De Bruyne], and we found solutions.”
City currently leads Arsenal by two points in the Premier League but now faces a challenging test without their midfield anchor. With Rodri’s season over and his Ballon d’Or ambitions curtailed, Guardiola and his squad will need to adapt and find a way to fill the void left by their midfield maestro.