Manchester City will once again have to manage without midfield engine-room Rodri when they host Bayer Leverkusen in Tuesday's crucial UEFA Champions League game at the Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola confirmed the news on Monday, saying the Spaniard is close but not quite there yet, a reminder that City are being very careful not to rush him back too fast.
Rodri has had a bit of a stop-start season since returning from that nasty ACL injury back in September 2024. Just when it seemed he was finding rhythm again, a hamstring problem flared up after a short run-out against Bournemouth in early November. That setback kept him out of the Newcastle defeat, which has seen fans vocally backlash the team following the poor result.