Manchester City midfielder Rodri has reported pain in the same knee that sidelined him with an ACL injury last season, casting uncertainty over his availability for the team’s Champions League trip to Monaco.
Rodri, last season’s Ballon d’Or contender, missed City’s 5-1 Premier League victory over Burnley on Saturday after withdrawing from the squad following Friday’s training session.
“He said, ‘I’m not able to play, I have a lot of pain in my knee, I cannot play,’” City manager Pep Guardiola said after the Burnley match. “I said if you cannot play, you cannot play. Another one is going to play.”
The Spanish midfielder was sidelined for eight months last season due to the ACL injury in his right knee, which Guardiola confirmed is causing him discomfort again.
Earlier this month, Rodri featured in three matches over eight days, during which Guardiola noted that he did not feel fully comfortable either in training or in games.
Rodri’s absence last season significantly affected City, contributing to their drop in form and failure to retain the Premier League title.
City heads into its upcoming Champions League fixture against Monaco after opening the group stage with a 2-0 home win over Napoli.