Manchester City have been dealt a significant blow as midfielder Rodri has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after sustaining an ACL injury. The injury occurred during their Premier League match against Arsenal on Monday.
Rodri’s absence is a major setback for Pep Guardiola’s side, who are aiming for a fifth consecutive Premier League title. The 28-year-old had already been dealing with a hamstring injury that kept him out of City’s opening two league fixtures against Chelsea and Ipswich. He made his first start of the season against Arsenal but was forced off in the 22nd minute following a collision with Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey.
This season, Rodri has only played a total of 66 minutes in the Premier League. He was an unused substitute in their third league game against West Ham United and played 45 minutes in their 2-1 win against Brentford before the injury against Arsenal.
Rodri has been a pivotal figure for Manchester City since joining them from Atletico Madrid in 2019. He played a key role in their record fourth consecutive Premier League title last season and was also named Player of the Tournament at Euro 2024, where Spain won their fourth European Championship. In his time at the club, he has featured in 260 games, scoring 26 goals and providing 30 assists across all competitions. He notably scored the winning goal in the UEFA Champions League final against Inter Milan last season, helping City secure a historic treble.
Rodri’s absence will be a significant loss for Manchester City. They will have to rely on other midfielders to fill the void and maintain their challenge for trophies this season.
