Manchester City midfielder Rodri is heading for back surgery next week, a tough blow confirmed by new coach Enzo Maresca on Friday. This news drops right after a season where Rodri was absolutely electric for Spain, ultimately winning the World Cup and the Golden Ball.
From World Champion to Recovery Room: Rodri’s Season Takes a Turn
Rodri’s had a wild ride lately. Back in 2024, he sustained ACL damage, which messed up parts of his last campaign. But he powered through, ultimately becoming a world champion with Spain. Now, with a back surgery scheduled for Monday, Maresca didn’t give a timeline on how long the former Ballon d’Or winner would be out. Still, the new gaffer made it clear he wants Rodri to stick around despite all the chatter about his future. “Around a big player, there are always speculation so I’m not worried about that,” Maresca said. “I think it’s normal also because they won the World Cup. He was one of the best players and I think every manager wants to have Rodri because he’s a top player.” Maresca emphasized the need for rest and recovery for his star, saying, “He needs holiday. He needs to rest, he needs to recover and then he will be back here with us.”
Maresca Steps Into a Giant’s Shoes After Pep Guardiola’s Unprecedented Run
This Rodri news comes as Enzo Maresca takes the reins at City, following the iconic Pep Guardiola stepping down. Guardiola’s time at City was just absurd, pulling in 17 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and that first Champions League crown in 2023. Across his entire coaching career, Pep has snagged 35 major titles, with stops at Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Maresca, who was part of Guardiola’s coaching staff during the treble-winning 2022-23 season, knows the pressure. He felt “back home” after spells at Leicester and Chelsea and is embracing the challenge of following one of the greatest managers ever. “I consider Pep probably the best coach in the world in the last 20-25 years, but again, it’s a challenge. It’s nice. It’s a privilege,” Maresca stated. The 46-year-old is on his third go-round at City and plans to keep things aggressive, aiming for control and imposing their ideas, because, as he put it, “to win games at the end” is the most important thing.
So, Man City has a huge challenge ahead with their star midfielder out. How Maresca navigates this early hurdle will set the tone for the post-Guardiola era, and fans will be glued to their screens waiting for Rodri to be “back here with us.”
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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