During Manchester City’s match against Arsenal, Rodri was substituted during the first half.
Star midfielder Rodri of Manchester City was fighting back tears following a worrying injury he sustained during his team’s Premier League match against Arsenal.
The pitchside microphones caught the 28-year-old’s loud cry of anguish as he fell to the ground and gripped his knee. He had been battling Thomas Partey to get on the end of a corner when he went down.
The Spain international was given a stretcher to leave the field, but he left with the help of the trainer and was replaced by Mateo Kovacic.
Although the Ghanaian was found not to have committed any infraction, VAR reviewed the incident between Rodri and Partey. Play was then restarted, with the hosts City leading but lacking their crucial metronome.
After a prolonged layoff due to his exploits at Euro 2024, he returned to the starting lineup and saw as Savinho’s ingenious turn set up an assault for Erling Haaland, who poked the ball past David Raya to score the first goal.
But with Rodri out of the game, Arsenal won a fast free kick, and Riccardo Calafiori curled a shot outside the area to raise the crowd at the Etihad.
Before play resumed, referee Anthony Taylor hauled Kyle Walker out of position for a talk, which infuriated Pep Guardiola, who kicked his chair.
Rodri, who made 64 appearances for his club and nation last season, has spearheaded proposals to alter the football schedule in order to safeguard the players’ well-being.
In order to compel the necessary change, he even issued a warning that elite experts would go on strike: “I think we are close to that, it is easy to understand.” It seems like a universal issue.
“I believe that each player you ask will tell you the same thing; it isn’t Rodri’s or anything else’s opinion. I believe it to be the players’ collective viewpoint. And if things continue this way, eventually we won’t have any other choice. Let’s see, though.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen, but it’s something that worries us because we are the guys that suffer.”
After such a resilient player sustained an injury, Rodri’s remarks are even more significant because City is worried that he would miss a significant amount of the season.
Guardiola does not have a comparable alternative in the team; Rico Lewis, Ilkay Gundogan, and Kovacic can all fill in for Rodri in the event of an injury.
