Nico Gonzalez provides injury update on Manchester City teammate Rodri | OneFootball

Rodri has seen his status following an injury concern sustained during the 0-1 win over Brentford updated by fellow defensive midfield teammate Nico Gonzalez.

Last year’s Ballon d’Or winner was forced off during the first-half of Sunday’s Premier League contest at the Gtech Community Stadium, sparking fresh concern among City supporters and staff alike.

Having only recently overcome a series of issues relating to his knee – the same one that had previously required long-term rehabilitation – Rodri’s latest setback is believed to involve a hamstring problem.

Pep Guardiola’s side have already been made to manage without the Spaniard on several occasions this season due to fitness concerns. In recent weeks, the City manager himself admitted that Rodri had been feeling the effects of “a lot of pain” in his knee, forcing him to miss the 5–1 win over Burnley.

Now, as speculation grows around the midfielder’s latest complaint, January arrival Nico Gonzalez has moved to calm worries over the severity of the situation. The young Spaniard, who has been gaining valuable minutes under Guardiola, has provided a positive assessment of Rodri’s condition.

Speaking in the aftermath of Manchester City’s victory at the Gtech Community Stadium, Nico also offered his thoughts on his own development and standard of performances, particularly at a time when the Spaniard may be relied upon more than usual.

“I feel good. I feel that I’m playing good. I’m learning a lot which is really important. As a player you want to win but you have to improve a lot in every aspect of the game,” Gonzalez said, as per the Manchester Evening News.

The January transfer window recruit continued, “Since I arrived here I have improved so much with the help of all the staff. In this league, every position is hard but we have a really good team with really players.”

Nico was also quizzed on Rodri and the severity of the Spanish international’s latest setback, as a hamstring problem forced the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner off the field during the first-half in West London.

“Rodri is well,” Gonzalez admitted. “He said it wasn’t that hard but we’ll see. I hope he’s back because he’s a really important player in the team and we need him to keep playing like we are.”

Should Rodri be ruled out for any length of time, Pep Guardiola may be forced to accelerate Nico González’s transition into a regular starting role – something the club’s recruitment team had already anticipated when signing him earlier this year.

The former Porto midfielder has earned praise for his tactical awareness and composure in possession, traits that fit seamlessly into City’s demanding system. In the longer term, City’s scouting department continue to explore options in midfield, having recently been linked with Bayern Munich’s Aleksandar Pavlović as a potential long-term successor to Rodri.

For the time being, Pep Guardiola’s focus remains firmly on keeping his talisman fit and ensuring his workload is carefully managed. Rodri’s influence remains unmatched in the heart of midfield, but with González’s growing confidence, Guardiola may finally be finding the rotational depth required to navigate a gruelling campaign without risking further setbacks.