Rodri out for 'short period' after back surgery

What the report says

BBC Sport reports that Manchester City midfielder Rodri is set for a brief spell away from action after undergoing surgery on his back on Monday. The club said the Spain international had been dealing with discomfort for a period of time and has now had a procedure intended to resolve the problem. City have not provided a firm date for when he will be available again.

According to the BBC, new manager Enzo Maresca said on Friday that the operation was planned and described the next phase as rest and recovery before Rodri rejoins the squad. The report characterises the absence as a “short period of rehabilitation,” but the lack of a timetable leaves uncertainty over whether he will be ready for City’s early-season fixtures.

The timing matters because Manchester City are due to play Arsenal in the Community Shield on 16 August, followed by their Premier League opener against Bournemouth on 23 August. Rodri remains a central figure for City, having joined from Atletico Madrid in 2019, but the BBC notes that injuries have disrupted his past two campaigns, including an anterior cruciate ligament tear that kept him out for most of 2024-25.

The BBC also reports that Rodri has one year left on his contract and has been strongly linked with Real Madrid. He recently helped Spain win the World Cup and was named player of the tournament, adding further attention to his fitness and future as City prepare for the new season.