The Spanish international could miss the opening phase of the season as specialists assess whether a back problem will require surgery.
Manchester City have suffered a serious setback before the start of the new season, with influential midfielder Rodri facing an extended absence because of a back injury that may require surgery.
The 30-year-old is undergoing further medical assessment, and the club has not yet announced a definitive recovery timetable. However, the injury is expected to rule him out of the opening weeks of the campaign and could keep him sidelined considerably longer should doctors decide that an operation is necessary.
Rodri’s absence would represent an immediate challenge for new Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca, who is preparing for his first season in charge after succeeding Pep Guardiola. The Spanish midfielder has been central to City’s tactical identity for several years, providing defensive protection, controlling possession and determining the speed of the team’s attacks.
Few players in European football combine those responsibilities as effectively. Rodri’s positional discipline allows City’s attacking players to operate further forward, while his passing enables the team to move through pressure and dominate territory. Without him, the side often becomes more vulnerable to counterattacks and less assured when attempting to control matches.
The latest problem is particularly concerning because it follows two seasons disrupted by injuries.
Rodri suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in September 2024 and required surgery, an injury that removed him from almost the entire campaign. His prolonged absence was widely regarded as an important factor in City’s difficulties during that season.
Although he eventually returned, his recovery has not been straightforward. Hamstring, groin and other fitness problems limited his availability during the following campaign, and City repeatedly adopted a cautious approach to his workload. In April 2026, Guardiola warned against rushing the midfielder back from a groin injury because another setback could have ended his season prematurely.
Rodri nevertheless recovered sufficiently to play an important role for Spain at the World Cup. His performances suggested that he was moving closer to his best form, making the discovery of a new back problem an especially frustrating development for both player and club.
The injury may force Maresca to reconsider his midfield plans before competitive football resumes. City have several players capable of operating centrally, but replacing Rodri requires more than selecting another defensive midfielder.
Mateo Kovacic has previously filled the position and offers composure in possession, while younger players may receive additional opportunities. City could also use a more fluid structure in which responsibility for protecting the defence and progressing the ball is shared among several midfielders.
Such alternatives can function for individual matches, but Rodri’s prolonged absence has previously demonstrated how difficult it is to reproduce his complete influence. City’s results and defensive stability declined sharply after his knee injury, despite Guardiola experimenting with different combinations and tactical systems.
The timing of the setback could also influence Manchester City’s transfer strategy. The club must decide whether its existing midfield options are sufficient or whether another specialist should be recruited before the transfer window closes.
Any move would require careful planning. A short-term replacement might become unnecessary once Rodri returns, while a younger long-term signing would need to accept competition with one of the world’s leading midfielders. Nevertheless, the uncertainty surrounding the back injury may make additional cover increasingly attractive.
Rodri’s contractual situation adds another complication. His current Manchester City agreement is due to expire in June 2027, and reports have continued to connect him with a possible return to Spain. Real Madrid have been mentioned as potential admirers, although no formal offer has been confirmed.
City are understood to want to retain him, and Maresca is reportedly eager to build his midfield around the Spanish international. Yet repeated injuries may inevitably influence negotiations over the length and financial terms of any proposed extension.
For Rodri, the priority will be achieving a complete recovery rather than returning as quickly as possible. Back injuries can vary significantly in severity, and the possibility of surgery means that a precise timetable may not be available until specialists complete their examinations.
City will be determined to avoid repeating the difficulties that followed his knee injury, when managing his return became a delicate balance between competitive necessity and long-term fitness. A conservative rehabilitation programme may delay his comeback but reduce the risk of another interruption later in the season.
The situation also highlights the physical demands placed on elite players. Rodri has previously spoken critically about the expanding football calendar and the limited recovery time available to those representing successful clubs and national teams.
City regularly compete across domestic and international tournaments, while Rodri remains a central figure for Spain. The accumulated workload, combined with the process of returning from a major knee injury, has made careful physical management increasingly important.
Manchester City still possess one of the deepest squads in European football, and Rodri’s injury does not remove them from contention for major honours. It does, however, deprive Maresca of the player who provides balance to almost every aspect of the team.
Until the full medical assessment is completed, uncertainty will remain over whether Rodri is facing several weeks away or a considerably longer rehabilitation.
For a new manager attempting to establish his system and begin the season strongly, the loss of City’s most important midfielder could hardly have arrived at a more difficult moment.
