Rodri back surgery complicates Manchester City contract talks
Manchester City's attempts to secure the long-term future of Rodri face a new hurdle after the World Cup winner was booked for minor back surgery that threatens his start to the Premier League season.
Rodri is set to undergo minor back surgery, casting immediate doubt over his availability for the opening weeks of the Premier League season. The 30-year-old Manchester City midfielder was already scheduled to miss the Community Shield against Arsenal following his World Cup exertions. He is now a major doubt for City's league opener against Bournemouth on 23 August.
The club faces a challenging early run of fixtures that could expose the competitive cost of his absence. City are subsequently due to travel to Crystal Palace, host Coventry, face Manchester United away and welcome Sunderland before the September international break. Losing a player of Rodri's calibre for this period could significantly impact the club's immediate pursuit of domestic silverware and its broader commercial value.
The medical intervention also arrives at a critical juncture in the club's business operations. Rodri has just one year remaining on his Manchester City contract. His market value peaked recently when he captained Spain to a World Cup final victory over Argentina and won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player.
However, his recent injury record presents a complex risk profile for the club's executives. An anterior cruciate ligament injury in September 2024 restricted him to just three Premier League matches that season. Further physical issues then limited him to only 21 top-flight outings last term.
Real Madrid have been linked with a transfer for the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner. Despite this looming interest and the mounting injury concerns, new City manager Enzo Maresca and the club's hierarchy remain determined to keep him and want him to sign a new contract.
Reflecting on the challenges he has overcome, Rodri recently highlighted the mental resilience required to navigate such setbacks. "We're a bit shocked right now, even myself," he told Fox Sports. "I cannot express with words. I think now we're like in a cloud but, for me, it's been a very tough time."
"I just want the new generations to see my example as an opportunity," he added. "When you go down, you can rise again. This is my philosophy for my entire life. Of course, sometimes things go well, things go wrong, but always the positiveness."
City's leadership will now await the outcome of his surgery before finalising their contract strategy for a player who remains central to their on-pitch ambitions.
