Rodri ruled out for rest of season with ACL after clash with Thomas Partey

Rodri has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained against Arsenal on Sunday.

Per a new report from ESPN, Rodri is set to miss the remainder of the season after rupturing his ACL in City's 2-2 draw with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium, despite earlier reports to the contrary. The Euro 2024 winner is a frontrunner for the Ballon d'Or but is now set for an extended period on the sidelines, giving Pep Guardiola a huge problem to solve.

While Rodri does require further tests for the ACL injury to be confirmed, ESPN quotes a source who claims that all signs point towards a lengthy lay-off. The midfielder went down early in the first half clutching his knee. He played 50 times in all competitions last season and was central to Spain's Euros triumph.

Rodri has rarely been injured throughout his career, with his longest lay-off coming at the start of this season, as he missed three games due to a hamstring injury. City will now have to find a way to replace him at the base of the midfield.

It remains to be seen if City try to source cover for Rodri in the January transfer window. In the summer, they were linked with a swoop to sign Crystal Palace and England defensive midfielder Adam Wharton.