Manchester City midfielder Rodri might miss the beginning of the Premier League season following an injury sustained during the Club World Cup.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner struggled with a torn ACL last season, and Guardiola has labeled this new injury as “significant.”
The recent issue is related to the GRO diameter section, occurring during City’s 4-3 loss to Al Hilal on June 30. Rodri came on as a substitute in the second half but had to exit the game prematurely due to his injury.
“Rodri is improving, but he has faced a serious issue in his last match against Al Hilal over the past five or six weeks,” Guardiola stated.
“He’s currently in training and has shown progress over the last two or three days. I’m hopeful that the upcoming international break will aid his recovery significantly.”
City, which had difficulties when Rodri was out last season, will kick off their 2025-26 campaign against Wolves next Saturday. Before the September international break, they are also scheduled to face Tottenham and Brighton.
Guardiola mentioned that Rodri might be “available for a few minutes” before the break.
Phil Foden Will Not Join the Palermo Trip
City has a friendly planned against Palermo in Sicily on Saturday, but Phil Foden will not be making the trip.
“Phil has been performing well but is experiencing some ankle issues, so we’re holding him back as a precaution,” Guardiola explained.
The manager mentioned that Foden is prepared “if feasible” for the season’s opening match.
Report by Associated Press.
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Fan Take: This news matters to soccer fans because Rodri’s absence could significantly impact Manchester City’s performance at the start of the season, considering his crucial role in the midfield. Additionally, with other key players like Phil Foden also facing injury concerns, the club’s depth and strategy may be tested early in the campaign.