Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that midfielder Rodri is unlikely to be in peak condition until after the September international break. The Spain international spent the majority of the 2024-25 season on the sidelines after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in September last year, an injury that required a lengthy recovery period.
Rodri, who claimed the 2024 Ballon d’Or, made his long-awaited return toward the end of last season. He appeared as a late substitute in City’s penultimate Premier League match against Bournemouth, marking his first competitive minutes in months.
Setback at the Club World Cup
The 29-year-old was included in Guardiola’s squad for the Club World Cup in the United States during the summer. City’s campaign was cut short in the round of 16 following a loss to Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal. Rodri entered the match in the second half but was substituted early in extra time after suffering what is believed to be a groin injury.
Speaking about the incident, Guardiola said: “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, he will be really fit.”
Limited minutes before the break
City will begin their Premier League season with an away match against Wolves on 16 August, followed by meetings with Tottenham and Brighton before the September international fixtures. Guardiola hinted that Rodri could feature briefly in these games, but stressed the importance of caution.
“What is important is that he doesn’t have pain because we don’t want Rodri coming back injured,” Guardiola said. “We will try desperately to avoid that.” The City boss also confirmed the midfielder has taken part in the last two full training sessions with the squad, a positive sign as he works toward regaining his match sharpness.
