Manchester City midfielder Rodri is out ‘for a long time’ with a knee injury | Football news

Salma September 25, 2024

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Manchester City midfielder Rodri is out ‘for a long time’ with a knee injury | Football news

City manager Guardiola says Rodri’s knee injury will be a ‘big blow’ to the club’s performance this season.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has injured his right knee and will be in contact with a Spanish specialist to assess his condition, the Premier League club said.

The 28-year-old Spaniard limped off the pitch in the first half of City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sunday. Reports earlier this week said he could miss the rest of the season.

After City’s League Cup win over Watford on Tuesday, manager Pep Guardiola said the midfielder would be out for “a long time”.

“Manchester City can confirm that Rodri has injured his right knee,” City said in a statement on Wednesday.

“The midfielder went to Spain for a consultation with a specialist this week, following the first test in Manchester. Evaluation is still ongoing to determine the full extent of the injury and the expected prognosis.

“Everyone at the club wishes him a speedy recovery.”

We can confirm that Rodri has suffered an injury to his right knee.

Everyone at the Club wishes him a speedy recovery 🩵

More information 👇

— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 25, 2024

Rodri, who was chosen as the best player in this year’s European Championship, which he won with Spain, has been the key to Guardiola’s success in charge of the Premier League champions.

Since joining Atletico Madrid in 2019, Rodri has played 174 Premier League games for the club and has finished on the losing side just 19 times in that time, winning 129.

His absence will disrupt City, who are looking to win a fifth consecutive Premier League title this season and sit top of the table with 13 points from five games.

Guardiola said he is responsible for finding a way to cope without a midfielder.

“Rodri is irreplaceable,” Guardiola said after City’s 2-1 win over Watford in the League Cup on Tuesday.

“If the team does not play with the best midfielder for a long time, for a long time it is very painful but my job is to find a solution so that we can continue to compete as we have been playing for many years.

“If one player cannot be replaced you have to do it as a team, and this will happen.”

Rodri has been tipped as a possible Ballon d’Or winner after his powerful role in City’s recent Premier League triumph and Spain’s success at Euro 2024.