Manchester City midfielder Rodri has ligament damage in his right knee, the club announced on Wednesday, but they did not specify how long he might be out.
The Spanish player, who is a top contender for this year’s Ballon d’Or award for the best player in the world, limped off the field after just 20 minutes during the 2-2 draw with Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.
Rodri, 28, went to Spain on Monday to get expert advice about his injury, and City confirmed that he “suffered a ligament injury.”
“Assessment remains ongoing to ascertain the full extent of the injury and expected prognosis,” the English champions said.
City manager Pep Guardiola mentioned on Tuesday that he expects Rodri to be out for “a long time,” but he also noted that there are “some opinions that it will be less than we expect.”
“We’re waiting for the last phone calls from the doctors to know exactly what definitely he has and the type of surgery he has to get,” Guardiola said after City’s 2-1 victory over Watford in the English League Cup.
Rodri’s absence is a significant setback for City’s goal of winning a record-extending fifth straight Premier League title this season, as he is considered one of the team’s most crucial players because of his role in protecting the defense and managing the passing game.
His value to Guardiola’s team was clear last season when City lost four out of nine games without him in all competitions. In contrast, they lost only one of 50 games when he was in the lineup.
Guardiola stated on Tuesday that Rodri is the “best midfielder in the world” and called him “irreplaceable.”
Rodri went down in pain after a challenge with Arsenal’s Thomas Partey in the box during a corner kick and immediately signaled for help. He was starting a match for the second time this season after being given an extended break by City following the European Championship, which he won with Spain in July.
