Rodri might be sidelined for a lengthy spell due to a back problem that could necessitate an operation.
The 30-year-old midfielder from Manchester City hit top gear at the World Cup after two seasons disrupted by fitness issues. Leading Spain to a 1-0 victory over Argentina in the New Jersey final on Sunday earned him the Golden Ball as the tournament’s outstanding performer. However, he now appears likely to undergo surgery on a back complaint that will force him to miss the beginning of the campaign.
This would extend a frustrating period of injuries that started when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament during a 2–2 home draw against Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in September 2024. That setback kept him out for almost all of the remainder of that term, and he then suffered another injury at the Club World Cup the following July. Hamstring and groin troubles restricted him to only 17 Premier League starts last season.
The back complaint arrives as the Spanish international’s future at City hangs in the balance, with his deal due to run out next June. Although he has expressed a wish to return to his homeland eventually and is believed to lean toward a move to Real Madrid, the Spanish club have yet to make a formal approach. Enzo Maresca, City’s recently appointed manager, wants him to stay.
Speaking after the World Cup triumph, Rodri reflected on his injury battles. “It has been an extremely challenging period for me,” he stated. “I hope the next generations can look at my journey and see it as a chance. When life knocks you down, you can get back up. That is the outlook I have carried through my entire life. Naturally, things sometimes work out and sometimes they do not, but you must always stay positive.”
In other news, Leeds are closing in on a deal to bring in James Trafford for a fee close to £50 million. The 23-year-old goalkeeper moved back to City from Burnley last summer in a £27 million transfer believing he would claim the number-one spot, only to lose the role to Gianluigi Donnarumma after the Italian arrived from Paris Saint-Germain.
Trafford was in the starting lineup for City’s Carabao Cup final win over Arsenal in March and their FA Cup final success against Chelsea in May.
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