Manchester City midfielder Rodri is expected to miss the remainder of the season after tests conducted on Monday suggested a possible ACL tear in his right knee, according to a report by ESPN’s Moises Llorens. The injury occurred during City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sunday.
While initial reports from ESPN indicated the injury could be season-ending, the outlet later clarified that additional tests are still pending. David Ornstein of The Athletic added that there is no official recovery timeline, but those close to Rodri fear his season may be over.
Rodri was forced off the field in the 20th minute after sustaining what appeared to be a non-contact injury while competing for the ball in the penalty area. He was assisted by the team’s medical staff and replaced by Mateo Kovacic.
The 28-year-old Spain international has been a key figure in Pep Guardiola’s side. Last season, Rodri played a crucial role in helping Manchester City win the Champions League, scoring the decisive goal in the final against Inter Milan. He also played a vital part in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph, where he was named Player of the Tournament.
During the 2022-23 season, Rodri scored nine goals across all competitions for City. His importance to the team was further highlighted by the fact that City lost three of the four Premier League games he missed last season.
Before this injury, Rodri had avoided major setbacks in his career, having only missed eight games due to injury since the 2019-20 season, according to Transfermarkt.
Recently, Rodri spoke out about the intense demands on players, saying, “We are close to striking because of the crazy number of matches.” Last season, he played 58 matches for both club and country, amassing over 5,000 minutes on the pitch.
The outcome of the additional medical tests will determine the full extent of Rodri’s injury and whether his season is indeed over.
