Enzo Maresca issues significant transfer and injury update on Rodri amid Real Madrid interest | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca expects Rodri to return as part of his first-team squad at the club’s training ground prior to the FA Community Shield against Arsenal.

The 46-year-old has completed his first full week on the training ground as the club’s new manager, having succeeded Pep Guardiola following the Catalan’s exit after 10 years at the end of the last season.

Maresca has faced a number of challenges and topics of discussion during the pre-season camp already, and perhaps none greater than the flurry of reports largely emerging from Spain concerning the future of Rodri.

With the FIFA World Cup’s Player of the Tournament and Spain’s captain during their success in North America seeing his City contract expire next summer, Real Madrid have been strongly linked with a big-money move this summer.

The player’s future aside, there is also an understanding that Rodri could yet miss the start of Manchester City’s season as he recovers from a surgical operation on a minor back issue, which is expected to take place on Monday.

Enzo Maresca clarifies Rodri future and injury status

Now, speaking to reporters from the City Football Academy during his first press conference as Manchester City manager, Enzo Maresca was quizzed on the future of Rodri as well as talk of the Spaniard undergoing surgery on a back problem during his off-season period.

“First of all, we have to say that around big players there is always speculation. So I’m not worried about that, it’s normal, also because they [Spain] won the World Cup – he is one of the best players,” assured Maresca.

The club’s newly-appointed manager continued, “I think every manager wants to have Rodri, because he’s a top player.

“But now, surgery [on a back problem] on Monday, and then he needs holiday, he needs to rest, recovery, and then he will be back here with us.”

When could Rodri return to Man City action?

While Real Madrid will continue to be linked with Manchester City’s superstar midfielder until absolute clarity has been delivered, either through a new contract or a public declaration from the player himself, focus will turn to a return date.

The Spaniard will miss the entirety of the club’s pre-season tour of Asia this summer, but could return to fitness and recovery work at the City Football Academy in the week that precedes the FA Community Shield against Arsenal on Sunday 16 August.

Manchester City’s first competitive fixture in the 2026/27 Premier League season will then come exactly a week later, with Marco Rose’s Bournemouth being the first challenger in the top-flight as they visit the Etihad Stadium on Sunday 23 August.