Manchester City midfielder Rodri will be sidelined for what the club has described as a "short period of rehabilitation" after undergoing back surgery. New manager Enzo Maresca confirmed the operation would take place on Monday, saying the Spain international "needs a holiday, he needs to rest and recover" before returning, though no firm timeline has been given for his comeback.

City said Rodri had been "feeling discomfort for some time" before the procedure to address the issue. The 30-year-old, who has a year left on his contract, has been strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid after starring for Spain in their World Cup triumph this summer, where he was named player of the tournament; his fitness has been a persistent concern, with the past two seasons disrupted by injury including a torn ACL that ruled him out for most of 2024-25. Separately, City confirmed defender Josko Gvardiol has signed a new five-year deal keeping him at the club until 2031.