Manchester City midfielder Rodri will undergo surgery for a back injury, though a timeline for his return remains uncertain. The Spain captain won the Golden Ball at this summer's World Cup after leading his country to its first title since 2010, starting all eight matches at the tournament.

Rodri's future at City remains unresolved, with just one year left on his contract. Talks between the club and the 30-year-old are expected with the World Cup now over, though sources indicate he has shown little willingness to commit to an extension so far.

Rodri has been repeatedly linked with a move to Real Madrid and has previously expressed a desire to return to Spain at some point in his career, though sources told The Athletic that Madrid currently has no plans to pursue him.

The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner has struggled with injuries since rupturing his ACL in September 2024, an injury that sidelined him for nearly all of the 2024-25 season. Fitness issues continued into last season, with hamstring and groin problems limiting him to 33 total appearances and just 17 Premier League starts.

Rodri was central to City's treble-winning campaign in 2022-23, scoring the winning goal in the Champions League final against Inter Milan while making 56 appearances across all competitions that season, a year that also included Premier League and FA Cup titles.

City has already taken steps to offset Rodri's continued absence, signing Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest this summer in a $155.4 million deal. The Athletic also reported July 21 that Mateo Kovacic and Nico Gonzalez are considered likely departures, while Bernardo Silva has already left the club following the expiration of his contract as he will join Real Madrid.