Manchester City’s Rodri faces extended absence due to back injury

By Sanjay Menon — 23 July 2026 — 3 min read

Manchester City midfielder Rodri could be sidelined for an extended period due to a back injury that may necessitate surgery. The Spain captain, aged 30, recently received the Golden Ball award after leading his national team to a 1-0 victory over Argentina in the World Cup final in New Jersey. This injury setback could prevent him from starting the upcoming season.

Rodri’s contract with Manchester City is set to expire next June, adding to the uncertainty surrounding his future. While he has expressed a desire to play in his home country again and is reportedly interested in a move to Real Madrid, the Spanish club has not yet made a concrete offer. City’s new manager, Enzo Maresca, reportedly hopes to retain the midfielder.

Injury history and World Cup success

The potential back surgery follows a series of injury-plagued seasons for Rodri. He ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in September 2024 during a match against Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium, which kept him out for much of that campaign. Further injuries, including hamstring and groin issues, affected his performance last season, limiting him to 17 Premier League starts.

Despite these challenges, Rodri returned to strong form at the World Cup. He started all eight matches for Spain, contributing to their first tournament success since 2010. Following the World Cup victory, Rodri reflected on his injury difficulties, stating, “For me, it’s been a very tough time. I just want the new generations to see my example as an opportunity. When you go down, you can rise again. This is my philosophy for my entire life. Of course, sometimes things go well, things go wrong, but always the positiveness.”

Transfer speculation and squad changes

Rodri’s future at Manchester City remains a topic of discussion, with his contract nearing its end. Reports from L’Equipe indicate that Real Madrid is now determined to pursue Rodri, with a shift in the stance of club president Florentino Perez. The Spanish club reportedly views Rodri as an ideal replacement for Toni Kroos, who retired two years ago.

However, there are differing reports regarding Real Madrid‘s interest. While some suggest the chances of Rodri joining Real Madrid are increasing, other reports indicate that Madrid has no intentions of signing him. Discussions between club officials and the player’s agents have reportedly taken place, with Madrid preparing to offer a contract until 2030 and working to agree on personal terms.

In other transfer news for Manchester City, Leeds is in advanced talks to sign James Trafford. The goalkeeper had rejoined City from Burnley last summer, but Gianluigi Donnarumma‘s arrival from Paris Saint-Germain saw him lose his first-choice position. Trafford started for City in their Carabao Cup final victory over Arsenal in March and their FA Cup final victory over Chelsea in May.

Meanwhile, the impact of Rodri’s potential absence has been partially addressed by the arrival of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest this summer. However, Mateo Kovacic and Nico Gonzalez are considered likely to depart, and Bernardo Silva has already left the Etihad Stadium following the expiration of his contract. Manchester City‘s 2026-27 season is scheduled to begin at home against Bournemouth on August 23.

Source: theguardian.com