Rodri remains weeks away from being ready for Manchester City, with Pep Guardiola confirming there is still no clear return date as City chase Arsenal in the Premier League title race.
City are five points behind the Gunners and could close the gap this weekend if Aston Villa take points from Arsenal in Saturday’s early kick off. The title race remains tight, with only 12 points separating Arsenal at the top from Everton in 10th after 14 matches.
City will need to take something off Sunderland first, however.
Rodri has barely featured since suffering an ACL injury against Arsenal in September 2024. Although he returned briefly before the end of last season, hamstring problems this campaign have interrupted his full comeback and kept him out for 11 matches. This weekend will make 12.
Speaking ahead of City’s game against Sunderland, Guardiola said: “No [he is not available] but he is getting better. I do not know how long but he is at the stage where, in a few weeks, he will be ready.”
Asked if the midfielder is definitely ruled out of next week’s trip to Real Madrid, Guardiola replied: “Ask me in Madrid.”
City’s season so far has leaned heavily on the goals of Erling Haaland, who has scored 15 of their 32 league goals. Until Phil Foden recently hit upon a rich vein of scoring form, City’s second highest goalscorer was an opposition defender who had scored two own goals.
The absence of Rodri has coincided with that reliance. Without him, City have lacked their usual control in midfield and have become more dependent on a single player than at any other point under Guardiola.
With their key holding midfielder still some distance from a return, City’s pursuit of Arsenal will continue without one of the central figures of their recent dominance.