Rodri injury update: What back surgery means for Man City season and Real Madrid transfer

The last two years have been a whirlwind for Man City midfielder Rodri.

Following his Ballon d'Or win in 2024, the first for a midfielder since Luka Modric in 2018, he suffered a torn ACL that kept him out for nearly a year. Even after returning from his knee injury, it took quite a while to get back to his best.

Now 30 years old, he finally looked like a world-class player again this summer at the World Cup, leading Spain to the title while winning the Golden Ball. However, he has been struck down again by a serious injury and could miss significant time.

The Sporting News explains what we know about Rodri's back injury, which at this point isn't much, while discussing what effect it could have on a potential move to Real Madrid.

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Rodri injury news, update

According to multiple reports, including from The Athletic and The Guardian, Rodri is set to undergo back surgery ahead of the 2026/27 Premier League season.

Not much else is known about the injury at this point, but it comes at an awkward time for Manchester City. Rodri has only just led Spain to a World Cup title, during which he won the Golden Ball. At no point during the World Cup was it suggested that Rodri may be playing with or carrying an injury.

What is Rodri's injury?

On Tuesday, July 28, Manchester City confirmed Rodri had undergone "successful minor back surgery".

The club statement added: "The midfielder has been feeling discomfort for some time but has now undergone a procedure to address the issue."

The Daily Mail first reported in June that Rodri would need an operation at the end of the World Cup. Multiple reports following the tournament clarify the nature of the problem being a back injury.

Speaking at his first Manchester City press conference last week, manager Enzo Maresca said Rodri would undergo surgery on Monday and that "he needs a holiday, he needs to rest and recover, and then he will be back with us."

How long is Rodri out?

A timeframe has not been placed on Rodri's return, as City only stipulated a "short period of rehabilitation".

The initial Daily Mail report said Rodri would miss the start of the season, at a point when Spain's participation for the duration of the World Cup was not yet known.

The Athletic has reported that the 30-year-old will rejoin City's squad ahead of the Community Shield against Arsenal on Sunday, August 16, along with the club's England and France World Cup players who are not taking part in the pre-season tour of Hong Kong and South Korea.

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Will back injury stop Rodri going to Real Madrid?

Injuries, even minor ones, can often stand in the way of a transfer.

Clubs are often quite shy about making moves for injured players, as they do not have full access to the medical records of players on other teams, and the risk of spending millions on a player who could be carrying a fitness concern is often far too high for such transactions.

Yet interestingly, reporting has not slowed on the interest between Rodri and Real Madrid. This could mean a few different things, reading between the lines.

First, it could be that Man City have provided Real Madrid with enough medical information to ease their fears. Second, it could mean the injury is not as significant as reported and is not enough to spook the Spanish side. Third, it could mean that most of the sourcing for the transfer reporting is coming from the player camp and the club are not actually interested in making a deal.

What Man City games will Rodri miss?

The Community Shield will probably come too soon for Rodri, although the same can probably be said for many of City's late returnees following the World Cup.

If the rehabilitation period is as minor as suggested, City's opening Premier League game of the season at home to Bournemouth on Sunday, August 23 could be a possibility.

At the same time, City's medical staff are unlikely to want to rush a player who has spent time on the sidelines with groin and hamstring problems since returning from ACL surgery last summer.

Man City's first five Premier League fixtures 2026/27