Manchester City have confirmed that influential midfielder Rodri has suffered a knee ligament injury.
The Ballon d’Or candidate was substituted during the first half of the 2-2 Premier League draw against Arsenal last Sunday, when he fell holding the back of his right knee after attempting to attack a right corner at the near post.
Rodri was helped on the pitch by two members of City’s medical staff and, after being examined in Manchester and Barcelona, fears of ligament damage were confirmed.
However, a statement released by City on Wednesday did not reveal the exact nature of the injury – a torn anterior crucial ligament (ACL) was widely suspected. Further tests will now take place to determine how long Rodri will be out and decide the next course of action.
The statement read: “Manchester City FC can confirm that Rodri has suffered a ligament injury to his right knee.
“The injury was suffered during the first half of this weekend’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal in the Premier League.
“The midfielder traveled to Spain to consult a specialist this week, after the first tests in Manchester.
“Evaluation remains ongoing to determine the full extent of the injury and expected prognosis.”
What did Pep Guardiola say about Rodri’s injury?
Speaking after Tuesday’s 2-1 Carabao Cup win over Watford, City manager Pep Guardiola said he was also waiting to know the full severity of Rodri’s injury, although he confirmed that surgery would be necessary.
“We still have no certainty [diagnosis] but he will be out for a long time, a while,” Guardiola said. “But some think maybe it will be less than we expected.
“Unfortunately he was injured, but at the moment I can’t tell you. We are waiting for the final phone calls from him and the doctors to find out what is definitely wrong with him and what type of surgery he needs to have. We expect it tonight [or] tomorrow we will know exactly.
Rodri is expected to be treated at Barcelona by Guardiola’s favorite surgeon, Dr Ramon Cugat, who has treated several City players who suffered serious injuries in the past. Cugat is a world-renowned specialist in ACL treatment.
Guardiola has several excellent midfield options to replace the Spain international, but he has described a player as vast as Rodri as “irreplaceable”.
“He’s fine. He is strong, sad of course and waiting for the final decision on what to do,” he said. “We don’t want it [the injury]but we will have a good season. I expect a lot from my players and I have a duty to find a solution, even if Rodri is irreplaceable.
“When a team doesn’t play with the best midfielder in the world for a long, long time, it’s a big blow. But it’s football. It happens. And it is my duty to find a solution, to be competitive as we have been for many, many years and to be there, to pose a problem to our opponents.
