Rodri set to have surgery after winning the World Cup with Spain

Rodri will have back surgery after leading Spain to its second FIFA World Cup triumph, and the 30-year-old midfielder doesn’t have an exact timetable for his return to the pitch.

Spain’s captain won the Golden Ball at this summer’s quadrennial tournament, despite recording zero goals. However, Rodri started all eight games for La Roja. He helped his team play on its own terms with all-around efforts in the middle of the park.

Injuries have limite Rodri since he won a historic treble with Manchester City in 2022-23. He missed almost the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign due to a torn ACL, and he has dealt with hamstring and groin injuries in 2025-26.

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Losing Rodri is a blow for Manchester City. But the summer purchase of Elliot Anderson will go some way to help the Sky Blues start their 2026-27 campaign on a positive note.

Rodri’s Manchester City future remains uncertain, sparking speculation

Rodri only has one year left on his current contract with Manchester City, and the Spain skipper hasn’t reportedly shown a willingness to extend his stay at the Etihad.

The one-time Ballon d’Or winner has been repeatedly linked with a sensational move to Real Madrid, and Rodri previously expressed a desire to return to his home country at some point in his professional career.

However, it seems that Real Madrid is lukewarm about signing Rodri. According to reports, Los Blancos will only pay up to €60 million for the 30-year-old midfielder, especially given his recent injury history.

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