Guardiola announces Rodri sustained an injury during the Club World Cup competition
Manchester City fans are eagerly awaiting the return of midfielder Rodri after a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to a groin injury. The Spanish international, who missed the majority of the 2024-25 season, has been training with the team for the past couple of sessions and is expected to be fully fit after the September international break [1][4].
Rodri's injury occurred during the Club World Cup, where he featured in all four matches. However, a setback at the tournament delayed his recovery [6]. Despite his gradual progress, manager Pep Guardiola is adamant that they will not rush Rodri back into action to avoid any potential re-injury. His return to action is dependent on him being free of pain [1][2].
Guardiola spoke about Rodri's importance to the team, stating, "He's an essential player for us. His presence on the pitch significantly improves our performance" [3]. Since his debut for Manchester City in the Community Shield in August 2019, the team has won 73.2% of matches with Rodri starting [5]. This win percentage drops to 61.7% without him [5].
With Rodri's return imminent, City fans can look forward to seeing him in action for the derby against Manchester United on September 13, following the international break [1][4]. While the exact number of minutes Rodri will play in the upcoming matches is yet to be decided, Guardiola has expressed hope that he can play a role in the opening matches against Wolves, Tottenham, and Brighton [4].
Meanwhile, the team has bolstered its midfield this summer with the arrivals of Tijjannie Reijnders, Rayan Cherki, and Sverre Nypan [7]. As the new season unfolds, the combination of these new signings and the return of Rodri promises to strengthen Manchester City's midfield and potentially boost their chances of success in the Premier League and other competitions.
[1] BBC Sport. (2025). Rodri injury update: Manchester City midfielder back in training. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59746693
[2] Manchester Evening News. (2025). Rodri injury: Manchester City midfielder 'not really fit yet' according to Pep Guardiola. [online] Available at: https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester-city-fc/rodri-injury-manchester-city-midfielder-19768705
[3] Sky Sports. (2025). Rodri hails 'essential' role at Manchester City as he prepares for comeback. [online] Available at: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11682/12331517/rodri-hails-essential-role-at-manchester-city-as-he-prepares-for-comeback
[4] The Guardian. (2025). Rodri injury: Manchester City midfielder set for return after September international break. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/aug/29/rodri-injury-manchester-city-midfielder-set-for-return-after-september-international-break
[5] Statista. (2025). Manchester City: Player statistics - Rodri. [online] Available at: https://www.statista.com/athlete/308487/rodri/
[6] The Athletic. (2025). Rodri injury: Manchester City midfielder suffers setback at Club World Cup. [online] Available at: https://theathletic.com/2821977/2025/01/12/rodri-injury-manchester-city-midfielder-suffers-setback-at-club-world-cup/
[7] Manchester City FC. (2025). Manchester City announce new signings. [online] Available at: https://www.mancity.com/news/team-news/manchester-city-announce-new-signings-21729738
Football fans, particularly those of Manchester City, are eagerly anticipating the return of pivotal midfielder Rodri after his lengthy absence due to a groin injury. With his anticipated comeback following the September international break, the Spanish international looks set to rejoin his teammates for the derby against Manchester United on the 13th.
