Rodri is set to miss the start of the Premier League season, handing new Manchester City head coach Enzo Maresca an early headache. The reigning European champions topped their World Cup 2026 group and will face Austria in the round of 32 on Thursday. According to the Daily Mail, Rodri will undergo surgery for a 'mystery injury' as soon as Spain's World Cup campaign comes to an end. Luis de la Fuente’s side are among the favourites to win the tournament, so Rodri may not go under the knife until after July 19 at the latest.
Maresca's Early Challenge
Maresca, who left Chelsea at the beginning of 2026, was announced as Pep Guardiola’s successor on Monday, signing a three-year deal at the Etihad Stadium. However, the Italian has already been handed a major injury concern - if reports are to be believed. The report states that while there is hope the undisclosed injury will not be too serious, he is expected to miss the start of the 2026-27 season as a result.
Impact on Key Matches
If this is accurate, then the worst-case scenario would leave Man City without their influential midfielder until September at the earliest. City will be in action six times during the month of August, with the possibility of additional pre-season fixtures after facing Inter Milan, K-League All-Stars and Atletico Madrid. They then face Arsenal in the Community Shield - the traditional season curtain-raiser on August 16 - before kicking off their Premier League campaign at home to Bournemouth a week later. Maresca’s side finish the month with a trip to London to face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
September Return Possible
Man City start September by hosting newly-promoted Coventry City and then the first league phase game of the Champions League falls before the first Manchester derby of the season - at Old Trafford. Rodri, if ruled out for the first month of the new season, would miss two Premier League matches and the Community Shield showdown at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. The best-case scenario would be that Man City and Maresca have the 30-year-old available for selection for the Manchester derby, which as things stand, is scheduled to take place on the weekend of September 12.
