The midfielder was substituted in the 21st minute of the 2-2 draw on Sunday after landing awkwardly on the pitch. Although he managed to stand and limp off, initial tests suggest he has torn his cruciate ligament, likely ending his season. This is a significant setback for City, especially after there was initial hope that his injury wouldn’t sideline him for long.
While the full extent of the injury has yet to be confirmed by the club, Rodri was seen leaving a Barcelona hospital for a knee assessment on Monday. This loss is particularly critical as City aims for an unprecedented fifth consecutive Premier League title.
After the match, City manager Pep Guardiola expressed uncertainty about the severity of Rodri’s injury, stating, “I don’t know yet; I didn’t ask the doctors. Rodri is strong. He left the pitch because he felt something; otherwise, he would have stayed.” He added, “He’s the best holding midfielder in the world and a potential Ballon d’Or winner; I would love for him to win.
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“But it happened in the early minutes. Matches against Arsenal tend to unfold this way, and we have to manage it. We did, and we performed well in many aspects.”
Rodri’s injury follows his recent remarks suggesting that football players are nearing a potential strike due to the overwhelming demands of the sport’s schedule. He asserted that the ideal number of matches for players should be between 40 and 50, rather than the 60 to 70 that City could face this season.