Manchester City midfielder Rodri injured his knee on Sunday in the top flight, a 2-2 draw against Arsenal.
On Friday, City confirmed the information that was expected and feared. Rodri is sidelined for the entire rest of the season because he has an ACL injury. In addition, the articular cartilage had taken a hit.
Rodri’s knee was operated on Friday morning.
City head coach Pep Guardiola stated earlier that Rodri is “irreplaceable”. Last season, he was sidelined for five games, with City losing four of them.
– Unfortunately, we received the worst news, but these things happen. We support him in his recovery step by step.
– What he gives us, we don’t have a similar player. But others together can replace what Rodri has given us. We have to do it as a team and find a way to play a lot of games without an important player for us.
According to Guardiola, City must now figure out how to manage without Rodri, and what kind of problems arise in the game. In the January transfer window, we can then react accordingly.
Since 2019, Rodri has been absent from 45 matches. Of those, City has won 64 percent and lost 24.
Rodri has played in 260 matches. Of those, City has won 73 percent and lost 11.
Rodrí, who led Spain to European Championship gold in the summer, has been considered a viable choice for the best male soccer player of the year in the world. The Ballon d’Or ceremony takes place at the end of October.
He only played his first Premier League game against Arsenal because he picked up a hamstring injury in the European Championship final.
City’s Guardiola and Rodri have been perhaps the harshest critics of the international football calendar. They have been worried about the increase in the number of matches and the number of injuries.
They are now trying to replace Rodri in City’s midfield With Mateo Kovacicpossibly a topper With John Stoneshaving returned from Barcelona With Ilkay Gündoganwith more aggressive ones With Bernardo Silva and With Kevin de Bruyne and with versatile promise, a 19-year-old With Rico Lewis.