Rodri undergoes back surgery amid speculation over his Man City future | OneFootball

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has successfully undergone back surgery, the club has confirmed, though the exact duration of his absence remains unclear.

The Spain international is now set to "begin a short period of rehabilitation" following the procedure.

The 30-year-old, who was crowned the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, has been contending with a persistent back issue for some time, leading to what City described as a "minor" operation.

This latest health concern marks another setback for the player, who has faced a series of fitness challenges since sustaining a serious knee injury nearly two years ago.

In an official statement, Manchester City confirmed: "Manchester City can confirm Rodri has undergone successful minor back surgery. The midfielder had been feeling discomfort for some time but has now undergone a procedure to address the issue and will now begin a short period of rehabilitation."

Rodri was player of the tournament as Spain won the World Cup (Bradley Collyer/PA) (PA Wire)

The update comes amid ongoing speculation regarding Rodri’s future at the club.

The former Atletico Madrid star, who has just one year remaining on his contract at the Etihad Stadium, has been linked with a potential move to Real Madrid, with rumours intensifying after he was named player of the tournament at the recent World Cup.

New manager Enzo Maresca addressed the situation last week, stating he was "not worried" about the midfielder’s future.

"He needs to recover and then he will be back here with us," the Italian commented ahead of Rodri’s operation.

There is no doubt over the future of defender Josko Gvardiol, though, following the announcement on Tuesday that he has signed a new five-year deal with City.

Gvardiol joined City from RB Leipzig in 2023 and went on to win the club's player-of the-year award for 2024-25.

He had attracted interest from Real Madrid but said: "As soon as City wanted to renew my contract, I knew it was what I wanted."

He joins Abdukodir Khusanov in signing a new a contract this summer, with City looking to rebuild their defence following the departures of John Stones and Nathan Ake.

Gvardiol is now expected to challenge Khusanov and Marc Guehi for a starting spot at City next season.