Rodri’s season was said to be over by Manchester City boss when the Ballon d’Or winner Rodri limped off the Etihad Stadium pitch in September following a non-contact knee injury early in City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal.
The Premier League champions knew it was bad when he left the game on Sept. 22, 2024, and Pep Guardiola confirmed soon after that the EURO-winning midfielder was expected to miss the rest of the season following surgery on both his ACL and meniscus earlier in the day.
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But Rodri’s recovery is going very well, and the Spaniard who won the men’s Ballon d’Or in October as the world’s best player says he wants to return to the pitch for Manchester City this season.
“Yes, yes, yes — I know myself, I’m a person who recovers well, with positive mentality,” he told Diario, transcribed by Fabrizio Romano. “The issue of the head was very important in recovery. Everything is going very well. I want to play again this season”
It all seemed so innocuous, as City led 1-0 against Arsenal and were attacking a corner kick for a second goal. Rodri was jostling for position with Thomas Partey when his left knee appeared to buckle while planting on the grass inside the 18.
The Spaniard was immediately in distress, feeling around the perimeter of his knee while Man City players signaled feverishly for trainers.
Rodri was replaced by Mateo Kovacic in the 21st minute. Less than two minutes later, Riccardo Calafiori scored to tie the game in Manchester. The heated battle ended in a 2-2 draw but Rodri’s injury has been much more nfluential in the title race.
Rodri injury update — Ballon d’Or winner wants to return despite Guardiola’s previous verdict
Pep Guardiola initially had some hope that certain options could have him Rodri back later this season, but surgery changed that.
“He had surgery this morning — ACL and some meniscus — so next season he will be here,” Guardiola said in his Sept. 27 press conference. “This season is over. We got the worst [news possible] but it is what it is. Sometimes, unfortunately, it happens. We are there to support him. Good recovery, step-by-step and we move forward. “
A hamstring injury plus a long EURO run with Spain meant Rodri’s season with City had been off to a slow start. He had played just 135 minutes for the club including 90 against Inter Milan in the Champions League at midweek.
Rodri has played in at least 33 Premier League matches each season for Man City since arriving from Atletico Madrid prior to the 2019-20 season.
City’s table stock had plummeted without the midfielder, and the team was expected to go into the January market to keep afloat as many of their season goals as possible.
When will Rodri return to Man City’s lineup?
It was improbable that Rodri could be ready to hit the pitch at all this season, so just the notion that he could be back from an ACL tear inside of 6-8 months is wild.
Players have returned to training in six months, and there are examples of American football players making it into games in that time period.
March 27, 2025 is six months from his surgery. That would be a wildly-early return. The eight-month mark of his anniversary is right around Championship Sunday, when City are set to visit Fulham for Week 38 of the Premier League season.
City are alive in the UEFA Champions League, and the one-time champs could start the Round of 16 on March 4-5 and the quarterfinals on April 8. The final is May 31.
