Rodri's significant injury may limit his playing time in the initial league matches, according to Guardiola's assessment
Manchester City's Rodri Suffers Groin Injury, Set for Return in Late August
Manchester City midfielder Rodri, a 29-year-old Spain international, is recovering from a groin injury that occurred during the club's 4-3 loss against Al-Hilal in July. This setback comes on top of a previous injury that kept him out for eight months due to a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's friendly match against Italian side Palermo, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola expressed cautious optimism about Rodri's recovery. The prognosis suggests that Rodri will return around August 28, specifically for the Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur. However, full fitness is anticipated after the September international break.
Rodri has trained with the team in the last two sessions and has shown improvement in his training sessions over the past few days. His aim is to play some minutes in the first three Premier League games, but avoiding pain is the top priority.
The injury is likely to limit Rodri's influence in the early stages of the 2025-26 season, as he will miss the opening game against Wolverhampton Wanderers and subsequent fixtures against Tottenham and Brighton. Manchester City will have to rely on alternatives such as Nico González in the defensive midfield role during this period.
Guardiola has emphasized the importance of ensuring Rodri's recovery and preventing any re-injury. The specific details about the severity and recovery timeline of Rodri's current injury were not provided.
British media have reported that Rodri has suffered a groin injury. The nature of the injury was not disclosed by Guardiola. The focus remains on Rodri's recovery and ensuring he is pain-free before returning to competitive action.
Rodri's return to competitive play in the Premier League may be limited to some minutes in the initial games. Despite this setback, the Manchester City midfielder is working hard to be fully fit after the September international break, ready to make an impact in the vital early Premier League period.
Rodri's return to the field is expected to coincide with the start of the European football season, particularly the Premier League, around August 28, targeted for the match against Tottenham Hotspur. During the earlier stages of the 2025-26 season, football fans may observe Rodri's contributions in the premier-league, though he might be limited in the number of minutes due to his ongoing recovery from a groin injury.
