Manchester City midfielder Rodri is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines as the Spaniard has suffered an anterior crucial ligament (ACL) injury, Afrosport reports.
The 28-year-old will reportedly miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season after he picked up the injury during City’s 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium against Arsenal on Sunday.
The City No. 16 went down just five seconds into the match against the Gunners on Sunday after a tackle from German forward Kai Havertz. Although he was back on his feet soon after and seemed fine to continue, the Spain international went down in pain 20 minutes later, after a slight collision with Thomas Partey, with his feet grounded in the turf.
Rodri, writhing in pain, was attended to by City doctors, before being replaced by Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic, who stayed on for the remainder of the game.
The former Atletico Madrid midfielder has only played 66 minutes this season for Pep Guardiola having required more time to recuperate after a very strenuous 2023-24 campaign after representing Spain at the European Championship, which they won.
Recently, he has been very vocal about the amount of matches players are being forced to play, adding that they pose a risk to player’s fitness, making them more prone to injuries.
Rodri has been vital to Guardiola’s system at City and he played an integral role in helping them retain their Premier League title. He was also named as the best player in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph.
🔵 Rodri llega a Barcelona para verse con el Doctor Cugat, como hacen habitualmente los jugadores lesionados del City pic.twitter.com/xXiWg5MmSM
— VÃctor Navarro (@victor_nahe) September 23, 2024
