Rodri Withdraws from Spain Squad for World Cup Qualifiers Following Injury in Manchester City Match

Spain midfielder Rodri has been ruled out of the national team’s upcoming World Cup qualifying fixtures after sustaining an injury while playing for Manchester City in the Premier League at the weekend.

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) confirmed on Monday that Rodri will miss the matches against Georgia and Bulgaria during the international break. The decision followed medical assessments conducted by Manchester City, which were later reviewed by Spain’s medical staff.

Spain are already without Barcelona’s teenage forward Lamine Yamal, who has been sidelined due to a groin problem.

Rodri was forced off in the first half of City’s 1–0 victory over Brentford on Sunday after appearing to suffer a hamstring injury, adding to the growing list of setbacks for last year’s Ballon d’Or winner.

Speaking after the match, Rodri said he “felt a little bit in the hamstring but it seems like it’s not that much.”

“I stretched the leg a little bit — similar to what happened in the Euros final,” he explained. “It’s part of the process. I don’t feel tired muscle-wise; I feel fresh. The most important thing is that it’s not too serious.”

The midfielder added that the timing of the international break would aid his recovery:

“The good thing is the break — it will give me the chance to recover over the next few days, and hopefully I’ll be available for the next game.”

Rodri looked visibly disappointed as he limped off the pitch in the 21st minute, moments after collapsing to the ground while clutching the back of his right leg. He was replaced by Nico González.

The 28-year-old has struggled with fitness issues over the past year. He sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in September last year, which sidelined him for eight months. He also missed the start of the current campaign after suffering a separate issue — reportedly a groin injury — during the Club World Cup, and has recently complained of knee discomfort.