Man City just got hit with a total gut punch right before Enzo Maresca’s first season kicks off. World Cup Golden Ball winner Rodri is going under the knife for a back injury, and get this, there’s no confirmed timetable for his return to action. The Athletic’s Sam Lee and Guillermo Rai dropped this bombshell, and it’s a significant blow, plain and simple.
City’s Irreplaceable Star Headed for Extended Sidelining
Let’s be real, Rodri is absolutely pivotal. This 30-year-old Spain international isn’t just a player; he’s the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner and was the central figure of Spain’s triumphant FIFA World Cup campaign in North America. He led La Roja to their second World Cup title with a commanding 1-0 victory over Argentina in the final in New Jersey, even snagging the Golden Ball award. You’d think that kind of performance would mean he’s past his injury woes, right? Not so fast. Last season, a ruptured ACL kept him sidelined for approximately 220 days and more than 50 matches. He managed to start just 17 Premier League fixtures, continuing an injury pattern that has robbed City of their most irreplaceable player at crucial moments across two consecutive campaigns. Now, with back surgery and zero recovery timeline, it feels like a nightmare repeating itself.
Real Madrid Is Already Making Its Move
This news could not come at a worse time for director of football Hugo Viana. He’s spent the summer building new manager Enzo Maresca’s squad, reportedly assuming Rodri would be available from day one. Now that plan is in absolute turmoil. The absence of a confirmed recovery timeline is the most concerning part of this update; City and their supporters simply can’t plan until after surgery is completed and medical staff can properly assess the rehab needed. Previous reports from Spain had optimistically framed Rodri’s back issue as minor, suggesting he’d be back for the 2026-27 season start. But The Athletic’s update totally contradicts that, stating a concrete return period will only be established post-surgery. As if things weren’t complicated enough, Rodri’s contract situation at the Etihad Stadium remains unresolved. An offer is still on the table, but talks aren’t active, adding a further layer of complexity. Meanwhile, Real Madrid is practically circling like a shark. They’re reportedly on the brink of agreeing personal terms with Rodri ahead of formal negotiations with Man City. They had even reconsidered signing him after his FIFA World Cup victory, but now, with this fresh injury and contract uncertainty, their confidence in securing a deal is growing. This whole situation just got incredibly high-stakes for Man City as Maresca tries to kick off his tenure.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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