Rodri sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury in Manchester City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sunday, initial tests have indicated, and may miss the rest of the season, handing the champions a serious blow in their push to win a fifth successive Premier League crown.
The 28-year-old was forced off after 21 minutes of the game at the Etihad Stadium, having gone down under minimal contact following a challenge by Thomas Partey inside the Arsenal area, but in clear agony. City await further tests but fear the worst in regards to the availability of one of Pep Guardiola’s most important and influential players.
As the manager said in March of the midfielder he rates as the best number six in the world: “He is irreplaceable right now.”
Guardiola has struggled to find a deputy for Rodri. Kalvin Phillips was signed from Leeds in July 2022 to offer competition but was ultimately judged not to be of the requisite standard and is now on loan at Ipswich. Mateo Kovacic, who replaced Rodri against Arsenal, is trusted by Guardiola but the Croatian is a different profile of player and, as such, City would have to adjust how they set up if he is to step in long term. Ilkay Gündogan and Rico Lewis are other potential options to play at the base of City’s midfield.
Kevin Kilbane: Hallgrímsson taking the first steps to making Ireland competitive again
Ange Postecoglou says some of the criticism he receives is offensive and disrespectful
Pep Guardiola rules out dropping Erling Haaland as Manchester City struggle for form
Irish Times Sportswoman of the Year Awards: ‘The greatest collection of women in Irish sport in one place ever assembled’
Rodri was suspended for three games towards the start of last season and City lost them all. Their only defeat in regulation time during the campaign with him in the side came against Manchester United in the FA Cup final in May. He was named player of the tournament as Spain won Euro 2024 in the summer and is a leading contender to win the men’s Ballon d’Or next month after being named on the award’s shortlist. – Guardian
- Sign up for push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
- Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date
- Listen to our Inside Politics podcast for the best political chat and analysis
