Manchester City Hit by Another Rodri Injury Setback Ahead of New Season
Pep Guardiola confirms midfield star Rodri faces delayed return after Club World Cup setback, leaving City without their key man for season opener
Manchester City have been hit with a huge blow just days before the new Premier League season kicks off, as Pep Guardiola confirmed that Rodri has suffered another injury setback following the Club World Cup.
The Spanish midfielder had only just made his way back onto the pitch after recovering from a serious ACL injury, pulling on the City shirt again during the tournament in Saudi Arabia. But in the final game against Al Hilal, disaster struck again. Guardiola has now revealed that Rodri picked up a fresh issue and will not be fully fit until September.
It’s a worrying development for City fans. Without Rodri last season, the team’s form dipped badly. They failed to win a single major trophy, finishing third in the league – their lowest position since Guardiola’s first season in charge. That slump highlighted just how important the 28-year-old is to City’s success.
Speaking to reporters, Guardiola gave a cautious update on his midfield star:
“Rodri is getting better but he had a big injury in the last game against Al Hilal. He has trained better in the last few days, hopefully after the international break is when he will be really fit,” Guardiola said.
The City boss stressed the need for patience:
“Hopefully in these games he can play some minutes but what is important is he doesn’t have pain because we don’t want this Rodri coming back injured. We try desperately to avoid that. He has been training the last two sessions with us and that’s good.
🚨⚠️ Rodri has suffered injury setback and will be out at least until mid September.
Guardiola: “Rodri is getting better but had a big injury against Al Hilal. He's trained better, we hope after international break is when he will be really fit”, says via @spbajko. pic.twitter.com/FlRfmp3EBD
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 8, 2025
City’s Rodri-shaped problem
Rodri isn’t just another midfielder – he’s the heartbeat of Guardiola’s team. Since arriving from Atletico Madrid in 2019, he has become the lynchpin in City’s midfield, dictating play, breaking up attacks, and even scoring crucial goals.
Statistics show just how much City rely on him. In Premier League matches without Rodri last season, City’s win rate dropped dramatically, and they struggled to control games in the same way. His absence was particularly felt in tight matches, where his ability to calm the game and recycle possession is unmatched.
The road ahead
City kick off their 2025/26 campaign against Wolves next weekend, and with Rodri sidelined, new signing Tijjani Reijnders is expected to fill the gap in midfield. While the Dutchman is talented, stepping into Rodri’s shoes is no small task.
The schedule doesn’t get easier either. After Wolves, City face a busy August with tough games that could shape their title challenge early on. Guardiola will be hoping Rodri’s recovery stays on track so he can return after the international break – just in time for the first big clashes of the season.
