Rodri has logged only a single minute of play for Manchester City in the past two months.
Manchester City midfielder Rodri is reportedly experiencing “suffering” and “struggling” as he works toward a return from a hamstring injury, according to manager Pep Guardiola.
The 29-year-old initially sustained the injury during a match against Brentford on October 5, where he played for only 22 minutes. Since then, he has seen just one minute of action, appearing as a late substitute in a game against Bournemouth on November 2.
Guardiola affirmed that the 2024 Ballon d’Or recipient is “getting better.” While he did not provide a specific timeline, he indicated that Rodri will “be ready in a few weeks.”
Since his arrival from Atletico Madrid in 2019, the Spanish international has been a key figure in City’s midfield, contributing to the club’s four consecutive Premier League titles, a Champions League victory, and an FA Cup win.
However, Rodri has faced difficulties in regaining full fitness for an extended period, since missing almost the whole of last season following a serious knee injury in a 2-2 home draw with Arsenal in September 2024.
Guardiola, whose side is currently second in the league, is preparing to host Sunderland on Saturday before traveling to face Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday. He stated, “Do you know what it means playing without the best player in the world two seasons ago? Our main player, when we won the Treble and playing 70 games.”
“[Then] during one year and a half [years] without him. Do you know what we miss? I want him back now…here.
“He is suffering, he is struggling because he wants to come back, but I want to protect him. I want to be sure right now that we minimise the risk. This is what we want.
“I want him desperately right now, in Madrid, or the next one but after that six more weeks he is out? No sense. When you have an injured ACL, your body is completely different.”
A month after his ACL injury, Rodri claimed the Ballon d’Or trophy, awarded to the world’s best footballer of the year, after losing just one game for club and country and helping Spain triumph at the 2024 European Championship.
He returned to action in the penultimate game of the 2024-25 campaign against Bournemouth in May and played in all four games at the Fifa Club World Cup in the United States but endured an injury setback in City’s shock last-16 defeat by Saudi Arabia side Al-Hilal.
Rodri then missed the start of this season and has featured in only eight Premier League and Champions League games so far, playing a total of 415 minutes.
He sat out Tuesday’s thrilling 5-4 victory at Fulham, where Marco Silva’s side threatened an incredible comeback from 5-1 behind.
“Rodri is another level of the players,” added Guardiola. “If Rodri came on for the last 20 minutes against Fulham, put him in the middle and do you know what is the effect? Just his presence, not even touching the ball? The other 10 players feel safe and they play better.
“What will you do, you’re a football player or you are a journalist, over 18 months you cannot do your job. You want to write, you want inspiration and show how good you are and you cannot do it. How do you feel? It feels bad.
“Of course, he is strong and in some moments he is sad. I would not be happy if he is not sad or concerned. Ahead of us, we have many nightmare things to live. He has to be there. He will be there.”
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