Man City’s Midfield Maestro Unlikely to Be “Really Fit” Until After September International Break
Manchester City fans will have to wait a little longer to see Rodri back to his dominant best, with manager Pep Guardiola revealing the Spanish midfielder is still battling his way back to full fitness after suffering another injury setback.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, who missed most of last season with a devastating ACL rupture, aggravated a groin issue during City’s Club World Cup exit to Al-Hilal in July. While he has recently returned to training, Guardiola admitted the 29-year-old is unlikely to be at full strength until after September’s international break.
“Rodri is getting better, but he had a big injury in that last game against Al-Hilal,” Guardiola told reporters. “He’s trained better in recent days, but realistically, we’re looking at after the internationals before he’s really fit.”
The news comes as a blow to City’s early-season plans, with crucial Premier League fixtures against Wolves, Tottenham and Brighton before the September break. Guardiola stressed caution, saying: “Maybe he can play some minutes in these games, but the priority is ensuring he returns pain-free. We can’t afford to rush him back only for another setback.”
Rodri’s absence last season proved how vital he is to City’s system—the team’s win percentage dropped significantly without their midfield anchor. His latest recovery timeline means Guardiola may have to rely on Kalvin Phillips or new signing Mateo Kovacic in the engine room during the season’s critical opening weeks.
For now, City fans will take comfort in seeing their midfield general back on the training pitch, even if they’ll need to wait a few more weeks to see him controlling games as only Rodri can. As Guardiola put it: “Having him in training these past two sessions? That’s already a very good sign.”
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