Rodri Suffers Injury Setback, Unlikely to Return Before September – Guardiola

 

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has confirmed that midfielder Rodri has encountered a setback in his recovery and is unlikely to be fully fit before the September international break.

The Spanish star has been out for much of the 2024–25 season after sustaining a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in September last year. Despite the long-term injury, Rodri was awarded the 2024 Ballon d’Or and made a brief return as a late substitute in City’s second-to-last Premier League match of the season against Bournemouth.

He was also part of Manchester City's squad at this summer's FIFA Club World Cup in the United States. During their last-16 defeat to Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal, Rodri appeared as a second-half substitute but had to leave the pitch in extra time due to a suspected groin injury.

“Rodri is improving, but he suffered a significant injury in the game against Al-Hilal,” Guardiola said. “He’s been training better in recent days, and we’re optimistic he’ll be ready after the international break.”

City are set to kick off their 2025–26 Premier League campaign on August 16 against Wolverhampton Wanderers, followed by matches against Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion before the international window in early September.

Guardiola stressed that Rodri's long-term health remains the top priority: “We hope he can get some minutes in the upcoming games, but we won’t rush him. The key is making sure he’s pain-free and fully ready—we can’t afford another injury setback.”

He added that the midfielder has taken part in the team’s last two training sessions, calling it “a positive sign.”

Source: theghanareport