Rodri misses Spain qualifiers to rest hamstring after injury setback | OneFootball

Spain have confirmed that Rodri has withdrawn from their squad for this month’s World Cup qualifiers after sustaining a hamstring injury in Manchester City’s 1-0 win over Brentford on Sunday.

The midfielder lasted just 21 minutes at the Gtech Community Stadium before signalling discomfort and sitting down in the centre circle. He was replaced by compatriot Nico Gonzalez as City went on to secure victory thanks to an early goal from Erling Haaland.

Initial fears were that the injury could sideline him for a prolonged spell, given his recent battle to regain full fitness after knee surgery earlier this year. However, Rodri moved to calm concerns, suggesting the issue was minor and that he was taken off as a precaution.

“I felt a little bit in the hamstring, but it seems like it’s not that much,” he told Sky Sports after the game. “I stretched a bit, like in the Euros final, but the most important thing is that it’s not that big. The good thing is the international break will help me recover.”

The 29-year-old was making just his third start of the campaign as he continues his comeback from an anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered against Arsenal in September 2024. That setback required surgery and ruled him out for several months, forcing him to miss a large part of last season.

He returned to action towards the end of the campaign and has been gradually working back to peak condition. Despite missing City’s 5-1 win over Burnley last weekend, Rodri featured against Brentford in what was expected to be another step toward full sharpness.

Spain’s football federation confirmed his withdrawal this morning, ruling him out of upcoming qualifiers against Georgia and Bulgaria. His absence is a blow for Luis de la Fuente’s side, who view the midfielder as a key figure in their bid to secure early qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

For City, Pep Guardiola will hope the international break offers enough recovery time for his midfield anchor ahead of their next Premier League outing against Everton on 18 October.

Rodri’s influence remains central to City’s ambitions this season, and while the injury appears to be a minor setback, both club and country will be keen to avoid rushing his return after a year already disrupted by fitness concerns.