Rodri's return from a cruciate ligament injury suffered last season is still being managed by Manchester City, who have been warned that they will have to wait to see his best form
Josep 'Pep' Guardiola, head coach of Manchester City, issues instructions to Rodri of Manchester City during a training session open to the public advertised as the 'City are Back' event at Joie Stadium on August 05, 2025 in Manchester, England.
Manchester City's Rodri may not get back to his best for another year(Image: James Gill - Danehouse, Getty Images)
Manchester City have been warned that Rodri will need a full season before returning to anywhere near his best. In September 2024, fresh off the back of a Ballon d'Or-winning campaign, the midfielder sustained an anterior cruciate ligament tear and meniscus damage in his right knee during a league clash against Arsenal.
Rodri, 29, underwent surgery and remained out of action until gameweek 37, where he played seven minutes of football against Bournemouth. City, without their star player, looked a shadow of the team which had clinched four straight league titles, clearly missing both his defensive contributions and quality on the ball.
That led to Pep Guardiola experiencing the toughest spell of his managerial career and City finishing in third, 13 points adrift of league winners Liverpool. Many fans at the Etihad would have hoped that their star player returning to the fold this season would result in better prospects.
However, Arsenal icon and Sky Sports pundit Theo Walcott has tempered expectations by stating Rodri will not, at least this season, be the same player they witnessed in 2023/24. Walcott, who tore his own ACL in January 2014, believes it may realistically take another year before the Spain international recaptures his best form.
Walcott commented on The Overlap US: “The problem with Rodri is as well, because I had my ACL [injury] too, the period of time you’re out for… it takes some time just to feel normal again. That’s the worry.
“This season’s a bit of a write-off. It’s just for him to enjoy his football again. He’s not going to be the same player, he just won’t be. It’s really sad for me to say. I wasn't the same player. There was an element of my game that I just lost.
“I think next year, it will be his new norm of how his knee feels, because even to this day I have issues with my knee. But I just think that’s the dynamic, they’re going to have to find someone to replace him in time because they can’t rely on him as much as they did anymore
Rodri down injured during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Arsenal FC.
Rodri missed most of last season following his ACL injury against Arsenal
“There’s a reason why he’s on the bench or he’s not playing as much. Because they need to manage that knee. So that’s a worry for me personally.”
Walcott's verdict will certainly not be what Guardiola wants to hear. His team have struggled this campaign, suffering two defeats since their opening day drubbing of Wolves.
Rodri, meanwhile, has been gradually reintroduced, sitting out the Wolves clash but featuring for 15 minutes against Tottenham and completing the full 90 against Brighton before the international break. He is expected to play a part in Sunday’s Manchester Derby.
Despite Walcott's comments, advances in ACL surgery and rehabilitation over the past decade mean young and healthy players now bounce back better following surgery. In recent times, Virgil van Dijk has managed to re-establish himself as one of the best defenders in the world despite an initial dip in form.
Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber played almost the entirety of the following season after his ACL at an elite level last term. Guardiola’s other options in central midfield are Mateo Kovacic, new signing Tijjani Reijnders, Nico O’Reilly and Nico Gonzalez.
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