Rodri: Man City and Spain star faces back surgery doubt for 2026-27 season opener

Manchester City are braced for a lengthy spell without midfield lynchpin Rodri, with the Spain captain set to undergo back surgery that throws his involvement at the start of the 2026-27 season into serious doubt.

The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner returns to his club having just led Spain to the 2026 World Cup title – and claimed the tournament’s best player award – but could now miss a significant portion of the upcoming campaign.

According to The Athletic, the 28-year-old will have an operation to address a back problem, with no clear timetable yet for his recovery.

The uncertainty represents an immediate and major setback for new Manchester City head coach Enzo Maresca, who may be forced to plan his debut season at the Etihad Stadium without the player widely viewed as the team’s on‐pitch reference point.

World champion facing fresh fitness battle

Rodri’s latest issue comes after a difficult two years disrupted by serious injuries.

The midfielder suffered an anterior cruciate ligament rupture in September 2024, ruling him out for most of the 2024-25 season and sharply curtailing his influence at club level.

Subsequent hamstring and thigh problems further restricted his involvement, limiting him to just 33 appearances in all competitions last term, with only 17 starts in the Premier League.

This stop-start campaign sharply contrasted with his towering presence in 2022-23, when he was central to City’s historic Treble.

It was Rodri who scored the winning goal in the Champions League final against Inter Milan, sealing the club’s first European Cup and capping one of the most dominant midfield seasons in recent English football history.

Major headache for Maresca and City

For Maresca, appointed to succeed Pep Guardiola and tasked with maintaining City’s domestic and European dominance, the prospect of beginning the season without Rodri poses a tactical and psychological test.

The Spain captain has been the side’s primary organiser in and out of possession, shielding the defence, dictating tempo and initiating attacks – a blend of defensive security, ball retention and playmaking that City have struggled to replicate when he is absent.

While City boast depth in midfield, no direct like-for-like replacement exists for Rodri’s combination of physical presence, positional intelligence and passing range.

His absence could force Maresca into a reconfiguration of his midfield structure, as well as potentially accelerate recruitment plans.

Contract uncertainty clouds Etihad future

Beyond his fitness worries, Rodri’s long-term future at Manchester City is also under scrutiny.

The Spaniard has just one year remaining on his current deal at the Etihad. Contract talks had been expected to take place after the World Cup, but the player has so far shown no clear inclination to extend his stay.

Multiple reports in Spain and England have linked Real Madrid with a move for the midfielder, viewing him as a long-term successor in the anchoring role at the Bernabeu.

However, the combination of his back surgery and the lack of a defined return date could complicate any immediate transfer plans.

The latest developments may prompt Real Madrid to pause or reconsider a summer approach, at least in the current window, while they monitor his recovery and City’s stance on any potential sale.

City wait for clarity on return date

For now, Manchester City are awaiting further medical assessments and a more precise prognosis following the planned surgery.

With the start of the 2026-27 Premier League season approaching, the club, Maresca and potential suitors alike face an anxious wait to discover when one of the world’s leading midfielders will be able to return to competitive action – and whether that return will come in a Manchester City shirt.