Manchester City’s Rodri to Undergo Back Surgery

Manchester City midfielder Rodri is set to undergo surgery to address a back injury, with no clear timeline established for his return. The 30-year-old also captained Spain to victory at the recent World Cup, where he was honored with the Golden Ball after starting all eight matches during the tournament.

Rodri’s future at City seems uncertain as his current contract has just one year left. Following the World Cup, expectations for contract discussions were raised, but he has not indicated any willingness to extend his terms thus far. Speculation has linked him to a potential move to Real Madrid, where he has expressed a desire to return to his homeland at some point in his career. However, reports indicate that Madrid has no plans to pursue his signing.

Rodri’s recent history has been marred by injuries, including a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) from September 2024 that sidelined him for most of the 2024-25 season. Fitness challenges continued into the last campaign, restricting him to just 33 appearances across competitions, out of which he started 17 in the Premier League.

A pivotal member of Pep Guardiola’s treble-winning squad, Rodri made significant contributions during the 2022-23 season, including scoring in the decisive Champions League final against Inter. That season, he appeared in 56 matches, contributing to City’s triumphs in the Premier League and FA Cup as well.

In light of Rodri’s absence during his recovery, Manchester City has bolstered their squad by signing Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116 million. Yet, uncertainties loom over the futures of Mateo Kovacic and Nico Gonzalez, who are both considered likely departures, while Bernardo Silva has already moved on after his contract expired.

As Manchester City prepares to kick off the 2026-27 season at home against Bournemouth on August 23, they will be strategizing how to cope without Rodri’s presence in the midfield.