Manchester City Midfielder Rodri Faces Uncertain Future Amid Injury and Transfer Rumors

By Arjun Nair / 23.07.2026

By Arjun Nair — 23 July 2026 — 3 min read

Manchester City midfielder Rodri could be sidelined for an extended period due to a back injury that may necessitate surgery. The 30-year-old recently captained Spain to a 1-0 victory over Argentina in the World Cup final in New Jersey, where he was also awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. However, this back issue is expected to keep him out for the start of the upcoming season.

This potential setback follows two seasons marred by injuries for Rodri. His previous injury issues began in September 2024 when he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament during a 2-2 draw with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium. This injury kept him out for most of that campaign. He then sustained another injury at the Club World Cup last July, followed by hamstring and groin problems last season, which limited him to only 17 Premier League starts.

Rodri’s future at City is currently uncertain, with his contract set to expire next June. While he has expressed a desire to play in his home country again and is reportedly interested in a transfer to Real Madrid, the Spanish club has not yet made a concrete offer. City’s new manager, Enzo Maresca, hopes to retain the midfielder.

Injury and Contract Status

The back injury requiring potential surgery comes after Rodri’s impressive performance at the World Cup, where he started all eight matches. Despite his recent success, his contract situation remains a key topic. Reports indicate that discussions regarding his contract extension were anticipated after the World Cup, but he has not yet shown a willingness to extend his terms with City.

Rodri’s impact on City has been affected since his ACL injury in September 2024, which sidelined him for almost the entire 2024-25 season. Last season, hamstring and groin issues further restricted him to 33 appearances across all competitions, including 17 starts in the Premier League. He was a crucial player in Pep Guardiola’s treble-winning team in 2022-23, scoring in the 1-0 Champions League final victory against Inter and making 56 appearances as City also secured the Premier League title and FA Cup.

The potential absence of Rodri has been somewhat mitigated by the arrival of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest this summer in a deal valued at £116 million. However, reports also suggest that Mateo Kovacic and Nico Gonzalez are considered likely to depart, while Bernardo Silva has already left the Etihad Stadium following the expiration of his contract.

Transfer Speculation and Club Stance

Speculation surrounding Rodri’s future includes strong links to Real Madrid, with the player having previously expressed a wish to return to Spain at some point in his career. However, reports from The Athletic indicate that Real Madrid currently have no intention of signing him. Despite this, other press reports suggest a shift in Real Madrid’s stance, with the club now reportedly keen to pursue the midfielder to fill the role previously held by Toni Kroos.

According to some reports, Real Madrid are unwilling to pay more than 60 million euros for Rodri, while Manchester City are reportedly holding out for a significant fee. Sky Sports has reported that the chances of Rodri joining Real Madrid this summer are increasing, following a meeting between club officials and the player’s agents. Real Madrid are also reportedly preparing a contract offer until 2030 and are working to agree on personal terms with Rodri.

Meanwhile, Leeds are reportedly in advanced discussions to sign goalkeeper James Trafford for a fee. Trafford rejoined City from Burnley last summer in a deal, expecting to be the first-choice goalkeeper, but Gianluigi Donnarumma’s arrival from Paris Saint-Germain changed that. Trafford started City’s Carabao Cup final victory over Arsenal in March and the FA Cup final victory over Chelsea in May. City’s 2026-27 season is scheduled to begin at home against Bournemouth on August 23.

Source: theguardian.com