Manchester City confirm Rodri has right knee ligament injury amid ‘ongoing assessment’ of recovery timetable

Manchester City have confirmed that Rodri’s right knee sustained a ligament injury in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal in the Premier League last weekend. The Spain international is undergoing further tests and consultation following initial results before the precise extent of the injury and the 28-year-old’s unavailability is known.

“Manchester City FC can confirm that Rodri has suffered a ligament injury to his right knee,” read an official club statement. “The injury was sustained during the first half of this weekend’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal in the Premier League. The midfielder travelled to Spain to seek specialist consultation this week, following initial tests in Manchester. Assessment remains ongoing to ascertain the full extent of the injury and expected prognosis. Everyone at the Club wishes him a speedy recovery.”

The EPL champions’ manager Pep Guardiola already suggested on Tuesday that Rodri will be absent for “a long time” after an EFL Cup win over Championship side Watford. “Still we do not have the definitive [diagnosis] but he will be out for a long time — a while. But there are some opinions that maybe it will be less than we expected.”

Rodri came off after 21 minutes and was visibly in pain after colliding with Arsenal’s Thomas Partey on a corner which seemed to twist the joint. The Spaniard traveled to Spain on Monday for tests after initial exams in Manchester and further examination was required to even reach the current verdict.

“One doctor says big, big injury, one not as much,” added Guardiola om Tuesday. “We are waiting for the last phone calls from him and the doctors for what definitely he has and the type of surgery he has to get. We expect that tonight, tomorrow we will know exactly.”

Rodri was voted UEFA Euro 2024 player of the tournament as Spain won the title in Germany thanks to the City man’s key role. At club level, he helped the Premier League giants to a fourth consecutive title last season and lost just a single game for club and country over a period of 18 months which also included UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup triumphs.

“When a team does not play with the best midfielder in the world for a long, long time, it is a big blow,” Guardiola explained. “Yes, he is irreplaceable. But I will find a solution. There is an alternative, we will do it. When you have one player who is irreplaceable, as a team we have to find a solution.”

City have lost just 11% of their games with Rodri since arrival from Atletico Madrid back in 2019 compared with 24% when he has been unavailable. He is also a candidate for this year’s Ballon d’Or award which he has already admitted would be “a dream” success for him.

Kept out at the start of this campaign through a hamstring issue, Rodri returned to action against Brentford recently but also hinted that top players are “close to” going on strike regarding the increased number of games being played across the expanded UEFA Champions League and Club World Cup.