Rodri return date revealed as Man City star undergoes successful surgery | OneFootball

Manchester City have confirmed that Rodri has successfully undergone surgery to correct a minor back problem, giving the club hope that he will be ready to return before the start of the new season.

The Spanish midfielder had planned the procedure after captaining Spain to the World Cup title. He played every game for Luis de la Fuente’s side as La Roja lifted the title for the first time since 2010.

Rodri also won the Golden Ball award following a series of outstanding performances.

City did not announce an official return date, but Rodri is expected to rejoin the squad a few days before the Community Shield clash against Arsenal on August 16.

He could return alongside several teammates who were involved in the latter stages of the World Cup.

The surgery comes after another difficult period for Rodri, whose time at City has been interrupted by injuries in the past couple of seasons. 

He suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in September 2024, keeping him out for almost the entire 2024/25 campaign.

Even after returning, he struggled with hamstring and groin problems, limiting him to just 17 starts out of his 21 Premier League appearances last season.

Despite those setbacks, Rodri is still one of City’s most influential players. He was crucial to Pep Guardiola’s set-up and will likely remain so under new manager Enzo Maresca.

Rodri’s future at the Etihad Stadium has also become a major talking point. He has been linked with a move to Real Madrid, with the Spanish giants reportedly working on a deal.

Madrid had previously ruled out making a move for Rodri, but they’ve performed a U-turn in recent weeks. Rodri has one year left on his contract with City and has yet to sign a new deal.

City have already splashed £116 million to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, although he’s hardly a replacement for Rodri.

It remains to be seen if City will be open to cashing in on the World Cup winner this summer.