News, goals, and analysis – only on the official A BOLA app. Rodri, recently named the best player of the World Cup won by Spain, will undergo surgery for a back injury, with no date yet set for his return to the pitch. The news comes at a delicate time for the player, whose contract with the English club expires in a year. The 30-year-old Spanish international arrives at this stage after a successful summer, where he captained his national team to victory in the World Cup, the country’s first title since 2010. The future of the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner at the Etihad Stadium is uncertain. According to The Athletic, contract negotiations were expected after the World Cup, but so far the player has shown no interest in extending his contract and has been persistently linked with Real Madrid. It is worth noting that Rodri’s performance has been affected by injuries since he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in September 2024. That serious injury sidelined him for almost the entire 2024-25 season, and physical problems persisted last season, with hamstring and groin injuries limiting his appearances to 33 games across all competitions, having started only 17 of City’s 38 matches in the Premier League. However, his importance to Pep Guardiola’s team was undeniable in the 2022-23 season, when he was a key player in securing the treble. Rodri scored the winning goal in the 1-0 Champions League final against Inter and participated in 56 games that season, culminating in victories in the Premier League and the FA Cup.
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