Rodri to undergo back surgery and may miss start of Premier League season

Manchester City's World Cup winner Rodri is to undergo minor surgery on his back, which means he may miss the start of the Premier League season.

The midfielder captained Spain in the World Cup final win over Argentina on Sunday and won the Golden Ball as player of the tournament. However, Sky Sports News understands the 30-year-old now needs a back issue addressed.

Rodri was not expected to be involved in the Community Shield against Arsenal following his exploits for Spain at the World Cup, but he is now a doubt for City's Premier League opener against Bournemouth on Sunday August 23, live on Sky Sports.

City are then due to face Crystal Palace (away), Coventry (home), Man Utd (away) and Sunderland (home) before the September international break.

The news comes after an injury-hit couple of years for the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner. An anterior cruciate ligament injury in September 2024 led to Rodri featuring in just three Premier League matches in 2024/25, while further injury issues limited him to 21 top-flight outings last term.

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Rodri has one year left on his City contract and has been linked with a transfer to Real Madrid. New City boss Enzo Maresca and the club want to keep him and want him to sign a new contract.

Reflecting on the challenges he had to overcome to achieve success with Spain this summer, Rodri said he hoped to be an inspiration and paid tribute to his own resilience.

"We're a bit shocked right now, even myself," Rodri told Fox Sports. "I cannot express with words. I think now we're like in a cloud but, for me, it's been a very tough time.

"I just want the new generations to see my example as an opportunity. When you go down, you can rise again. This is my philosophy for my entire life.

"Of course, sometimes things go well, things go wrong, but always the positiveness.

"I said to the lads before the game, 'we have to go for the game'. We need to face them, we have to look to their eyes. We want this game. And then life gives you the World Cup or not, but we were brave and I was brave in that moment I was down, so I want to thank all the people that helped me.

"But I want to thank myself, to be honest, in those moments."