Manchester City lynchpin Rodri is almost certain to miss the rest of the season after tests on Monday indicated he may have torn the ACL in his right knee during Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal, a source told ESPN’s Moises Llorens.
ESPN initially reported that tests had confirmed the injury as season-ending but is now reporting that more tests are on the way. The Athletic’s David Ornstein also reports that there’s no official timetable but that sources close to the player fear his season is over.
Rodri limped off the field in the 20th minute with the help of team medics at the Etihad and was replaced by Mateo Kovacic. The Spanish international fell to the ground with what appeared to be a non-contact injury after jostling for position in the penalty area.
Rodri is a pivotal member of Pep Guardiola’s squad and a Ballon d’Or nominee. He won Euro 2024 with Spain as the player of the tournament and scored nine times in all competitions for City last season. He also bagged the game-winning goal in the 2023 Champions League final against Inter Milan.
The Premier League champions lost three of the four Premier League games he missed last season.
The 28-year-old had never previously suffered a significant injury in his career and has only been sidelined for eight games due to injury since the start of the 2019-20 season, according to Transfermarkt.com.
Rodri said just last week that players are close to going on strike over the ever-expanding schedule they’re facing in European football. Rodri started 58 matches for club and country last season, logging over 5,000 minutes on the pitch.
