Rodri to undergo back surgery but Enzo Maresca brushes off transfer speculation around Spain midfielder

World Cup winner Rodri will have surgery on a back issue on Monday, new Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca has confirmed.

The 30-year-old Spain captain guided his country to World Cup glory last week and was named the Golden Ball winner as player of the tournament.

But the midfielder’s last two seasons at club level were heavily disrupted – an anterior cruciate ligament injury leaving him sidelined for the majority of the 2024-25 campaign before several setbacks last season meant he was often unavailable.

The Ballon d’Or winner was back to his best at the World Cup but, speaking at his first news conference since being appointed City boss, Maresca said Rodri now needs surgery followed by recuperation.

“Now, [he has] surgery on Monday. Then he needs a holiday, he needs to rest and recover and then he will be back with us,” the Italian coach said.

Maresca did not elaborate on when Rodri might return though he did dismiss speculation around the Spaniard’s future at Etihad Stadium following reports in the past week linking him with a move to Real Madrid.

“Around big players there are always speculations so I am not worried about that,” he said.

“I think it is normal, also because they [Spain] won the World Cup and because he is one of the best players. I think every manager wants to have Rodri because he is a top player.”

Of other players still to return, Maresca said he expected to have them in the squad three or four days before City face Premier League champions Arsenal in the Community Shield on Sunday, 16 August.