Manchester City's Rodri Ruled Out for the Rest of the Season with a Cruciate Ligament Rupture'

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2024/25 season after suffering a severe anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in his right knee. The injury occurred during City's 2-2 draw against Arsenal on Sunday.

Rodri, who is 28 years old, went down clutching his knee midway through the first half and was subsequently replaced by Mateo Kovacic. Tests conducted on Monday confirmed the extent of the injury, which will likely require surgery in Barcelona.

This injury is a massive blow to Manchester City's ambitions, as Rodri has been a pivotal figure in their recent successes, including scoring the winning goal in the Champions League final against Inter Milan last year. His absence leaves a considerable gap in City's midfield, especially with Kevin De Bruyne also sidelined due to injury.

Rodri's injury comes at a time when he had voiced concerns about the increasing workload on players, suggesting that the expanding football calendar could force players to strike. He played 4,327 minutes across 50 games for City last season, highlighting his importance to the team.

The recovery period for an ACL injury typically ranges from six to nine months, making it feasible that Rodri will miss the rest of the European club season, which concludes with the UEFA Champions League final in Munich on May 31, 2025.