Manchester City’s midfield engine, Rodri, has been battling to regain full fitness since making his comeback from a serious injury that sidelined him for the entire 2024/25 season — a major setback for Pep Guardiola’s side.
The Spanish midfielder made his long-awaited return during the FIFA Club World Cup, but his struggle to maintain consistent fitness has continued into the current campaign. His latest injury concern arose during City’s Premier League clash against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Sunday, October 5, 2025, where he appeared to pick up another knock.
What did Rodri say about his injury?
Following City’s victory over Brentford, Rodri spoke about his condition, confirming that he will not join the Spanish national team for the upcoming international break as he needs to undergo further medical assessment.
“I’m good. I felt a little bit in the hamstring, but it doesn’t seem too serious. The important thing was the victory,” Rodri said. “I stretched the leg a bit — similar to what happened in the Euros final. It’s part of the recovery process. I don’t feel any major pain, just general muscle fatigue. The key thing is that it’s not a big injury. It’s better to stop early and not push the muscle further. The break has come at a good time for me to rest and recover, and hopefully, I’ll be ready for the next game.”
Rodri’s remarks suggest cautious optimism — he is aware of his body’s limits but confident about returning stronger after the international pause.
Since joining Manchester City in 2019, Rodri has been a cornerstone of Guardiola’s midfield setup, admired for his calmness under pressure, tactical intelligence, and ability to control the tempo of play. Widely regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders in modern football, he has made over 175 Premier League appearances, contributing 22 goals and 21 assists, while maintaining an impressive passing accuracy of over 90%.
His absence is always felt deeply within the squad, as City’s balance and rhythm often depend on his positional awareness and distribution from deep.
Guardiola and the club’s supporters will be anxiously hoping that Rodri’s latest setback is only minor and that he will be fit and ready to feature after the international break — particularly ahead of the crucial Premier League fixture against Everton.
In the meantime, the medical team is expected to monitor him closely, ensuring that any recurrence of the injury is avoided. For Manchester City, a fully fit Rodri remains essential to their ambitions of defending both domestic and European titles this season.