Manchester City announced on Wednesday that Rodri sustained ligament damage to his right knee during their recent encounter with Arsenal, though the exact severity of the injury is still uncertain. The midfielder has been consulting specialists in Spain this week after he was forced off the pitch midway through the first half of the match at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday following a collision with Thomas Partey.
"Manchester City FC can confirm that Rodri has suffered a ligament injury to his right knee," the Premier League champions stated in an official release. "The injury occurred during the first half of this weekend's 2-2 draw with Arsenal in the Premier League." The statement further added, "Assessment is ongoing to determine the full extent of the injury and the expected recovery timeline." Although no specific recovery period has been provided, City manager Pep Guardiola indicated after his team's 2-1 League Cup victory over Watford on Tuesday that Rodri would be sidelined "for a long time." Earlier reports suggested that the 28-year-old Spanish international might miss the remainder of the season.
Rodri's absence will significantly impact City's aspirations for a fifth consecutive Premier League title and their quest to reclaim the Champions League crown. The defensive midfielder played a pivotal role in City's fourth consecutive Premier League triumph last season, helping to fend off Arsenal, and was honored as the player of the tournament at Euro 2024 as Spain secured victory. The former Atletico Madrid player has only lost one match for club or country in the past 18 months—the FA Cup final against Manchester United—and has been considered a potential Ballon d'Or winner.
City's Premier League win rate with Rodri in the lineup stands at 74.1 percent, but without him, it drops to 61.9 percent. Guardiola acknowledged the challenge of compensating for Rodri's absence, stating, "Rodri is irreplaceable. When a team is without the best midfielder in the world for an extended period, it is undoubtedly a significant blow, but it is my responsibility to find a solution to maintain our competitiveness, as we have done for many years." He added, "When a player is irreplaceable, the team must step up collectively, and this is what will happen." Rodri had already faced an early season setback, missing City's first four games, including the Community Shield, due to a hamstring injury.
