Rodri to undergo surgery on 'mystery' injury, expected to miss season start

Manchester City captain Rodri is set to undergo surgery for a so-called "mystery" injury and is expected to miss the opening weeks of the 2026-27 season. The operation is scheduled to take place after Spain’s World Cup campaign, leaving him unavailable for the bulk of City’s pre-season under new head coach Enzo Maresca.

City have not detailed the nature of the problem. The timing is a significant setback for Maresca, who returned to the club after a compensation agreement with Chelsea and had hoped for a smooth start to his tenure. On his appointment he said: "Manchester City is a club I know very well and to have the chance to manage this team is a brilliant opportunity for me," adding that "City is an incredibly well-run football club.

Everything they do is innovative, planned and purposeful." Rodri’s long-term future at the Etihad is also in focus. The midfielder is entering the final 12 months of his contract; while an offer is reportedly on the table, negotiations have not progressed and Real Madrid have been linked with a move.

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