Rodri’s mystery injury forces City to recalibrate without their spine

Manchester City’s defensive midfield spine faces an unexpected challenge after Rodri is set to undergo surgery on an undisclosed injury and miss the start of the 2026/27 season. The 30-year-old Spain international’s absence arrives as newly appointed manager Enzo Maresca prepares for his first campaign in charge at the Etihad Stadium. The timing could not be worse for Sporting Director Hugo Viana, who has spent the opening weeks of the transfer window reinforcing the squad following Bernardo Silva’s departure. City have already moved to address the midfield void with a £116 million deal for Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, who completed his medical and agreed personal terms earlier this month. Rodri’s rehabilitation is expected to be a short process, but the club declined to comment on the report published by MailSport’s Jack Gaughan. The injury surfaced after Spain’s FIFA World Cup campaign this summer, leaving the player’s availability for City’s August 1 pre-season opener against Inter Milan in doubt.

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Contract talks between Rodri and Manchester City remain inactive despite a long-term extension offer still on the table. His current deal runs until June 2027, a timeline that shifts leverage back to the player as Real Madrid continue to monitor his situation. The absence will force Enzo Maresca to explore alternatives, with Rico Lewis and Nico González both in uncertain positions this summer. City’s pre-season tour of Asia, which includes fixtures in Hong Kong and South Korea, now faces added scrutiny over Rodri’s fitness and the squad’s depth in midfield.

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Hugo Viana’s summer planning has been shaped by the need to provide Maresca with a stable roster, but the latest setback complicates the transition away from the Pep Guardiola era. The club’s proactive recruitment of Anderson suggests a recognition of the risks posed by Rodri’s potential absence. With the squad’s hierarchy aware of the final 12 months of Rodri’s contract, the coming weeks will be pivotal in determining whether the Spain international remains at City or explores options elsewhere.