{"success":true,"data":{"id":"d20692ec-30de-4b69-9129-3feaa1024ab4","title":"Rodri to have back surgery but Maresca brushes off transfer speculation","summary":"A-Z Sports Rodri set to undergo back surgery Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Rodri started all eight of Spain's matches as they won the men's World Cup for the second time By Jess Anderson BBC Sport journalist Published 21 minutes ago World Cup winner Rodri will have surgery on a back issu...","content":"**A-Z Sports**\n\n# Rodri set to undergo back surgery\n\n![Image 1: Rodri playing for Spain](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/3840/cpsprodpb/16ca/live/b2714390-8765-11f1-84de-b90328819e7a.jpg)Image source, Getty Images\n\nImage caption, \n\nRodri started all eight of Spain's matches as they won the men's World Cup for the second time\n\nBy Jess Anderson\n\nBBC Sport journalist\n\n*   Published 21 minutes ago \n\n**World Cup winner Rodri will have surgery on a back issue on Monday, new**[**Manchester City**](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-city)**boss Enzo Maresca has confirmed.**\n\nThe 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.\n\nBut the midfielder's last two seasons at club level were heavily disrupted by injury – 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.\n\nThe 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,](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c2k248wwk74o) Maresca said the player now needs surgery followed by recuperation.\n\n\"Now, [he undergoes] 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.\n\nMaresca did not elaborate on when Rodri might return though he did dismiss speculation around the Spaniard's future at the Etihad following reports in the past week linking him with a move to Real Madrid.\n\n\"Around big players there are always speculations so I am not worried about that,\" he said.\n\n\"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.\"\n\nOf 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](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal) in the Community Shield on Sunday, 16 August.\n\n    \n\n    *   Published 29 June \n\n    \n\n    *   Published 3 days ago \n\n## 'A privilege' to succeed Guardiola\n\nIn his first news conference since succeeding Pep Guardiola last month, Marseca found himself fielding questions about the Catalan, who won 20 trophies in his 10 years at the club.\n\nThe 46-year-old knows only too well the tough act he has to follow having worked as Guardiola's assistant during the 2022-23 Treble winning season.\n\n\"I want to say it is a privilege because it's the reason why the club decided to go for me, that is a privilege,\" he said.\n\n\"I have said many times, I consider Pep the best coach in the world in the last 20-25 years. It is a challenge [to replace him].\"\n\nFigure caption, \n\nMaresca on following Guardiola's footsteps\n\nMaresca, who called time on his time at [Chelsea](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea) in January after 18 months, acknowledged the challenge of arriving at a club who have had just three managers in 16 years.\n\n\"That is not normal and has not happened often,\" he said. \"I am confident that we can continue to do a great job and continue to do the job that has been done in the last 14, 15 years since Roberto Mancini was here.\n\n\"I know the organisation quite well and the people inside the club from years ago. The structure understands to give time for everything.\n\n\"Since [Manchester City](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-city) contacted me, I had no doubt about joining this fantastic club.\"\n\nMaresca hinted that there were \"a few things to do\" in the transfer window but would not be drawn on the futures of players including goalkeeper James Trafford, who has been linked with a move away from the club, and returning midfielder Jack Grealish, who spent last season on loan at [Everton](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/everton) but is back in training with City.\n\n**Follow Manchester City on BBC Sounds**\n\nPre-match, post-match and topical City content\n\nJuly 2026\n\nSubscribe and listen for everything you love about City\n\n## Related topics\n\n## More on this story\n\n    \n\n    *   Published 21 hours ago \n\n## Shorts\n\nPrevious Next, 2 to 4 of 15\n\n*   0:31'Privilege' to follow Guardiola's footsteps - Maresca. 00:00:31, play video'Privilege' to follow Guardiola's footsteps - Maresca![Image 6: Enzo Maresca and Pep Guardiola](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/400/cpsprodpb/5e10/live/bfa19e10-8766-11f1-b2ab-0dd01740f9f6.jpg) \n*   0:40 Klopp threatens to quit Germany job. 00:00:40, play video Klopp threatens to quit Germany job![Image 7: Jurgen Klopp](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/400/cpsprodpb/c5e3/live/89b19060-8768-11f1-a7ab-8b30adf0800a.jpg) \n*   0:29 Maresca addresses Grealish's future at Man City. 00:00:29, play video Maresca addresses Grealish's future at Man City![Image 8: Enzo Maresca and Jack Grealish](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/400/cpsprodpb/dab9/live/f6cfb490-8765-11f1-aec4-5d4d96e3f4ec.jpg) \n*   0:41 Klopp says Germany needs 'new expectations' 00:00:41, play video Klopp says Germany needs 'new expectations'![Image 9: Jurgen Klopp](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/400/cpsprodpb/cce9/live/52ffb0c0-8753-11f1-95ec-a30de4e448c4.jpg) \n*   0:55 Who would AJ trust with a secret? 00:00:55, play video Who would AJ trust with a secret?![Image 10: British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/400/cpsprodpb/f86c/live/7eeee350-86df-11f1-8c61-e72dd81a46e3.jpg) \n*   1:22'No funding' - England's Amputee World Cup on hold. 00:01:22, play video'No funding' - England's Amputee World Cup on hold![Image 11: England amputee footballer Thomas Atkinson speaking to BBC Breakfast. He is wearing a black England amputee football shirt.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/400/cpsprodpb/16a9/live/47379d00-874b-11f1-a7ab-8b30adf0800a.jpg) \n*   1:00 Germany job pinnacle of my coaching career - Klopp. 00:01:00, play video Germany job pinnacle of my coaching career - Klopp![Image 12: Jurgen Klopp](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/400/cpsprodpb/e4b6/live/1f5cf2a0-874e-11f1-b2ab-0dd01740f9f6.jpg) \n*   0:48 What makes 3x3 basketball 'so exciting'? 00:00:48, play video What makes 3x3 basketball 'so exciting'?![Image 13: Team Scotland's Hannah Robb](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/400/cpsprodpb/d9cc/live/a0842750-8743-11f1-926f-c90d1bcfbc84.jpg) \n*   1:19 Lindblad looks back on his F1 Journey 00:01:19, play video Lindblad looks back on his F1 Journey ![Image 14: Arvid Lindblad](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/400/cpsprodpb/e58f/live/c8cb1750-84eb-11f1-b976-0b9c15b0ccfc.jpg) \n*   0:33 What success looks like for Wales' chef de mission. 00:00:33, play video What success looks like for Wales' chef de mission![Image 15: Gethin Jones](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/400/cpsprodpb/573b/live/7a14eb90-85cc-11f1-926f-c90d1bcfbc84.jpg) \n*   0:46 We don't want to talk about Tyson Fury - Joshua. 00:00:46, play video We don't want to talk about Tyson Fury - Joshua![Image 16: Anthony Joshua holding microphone at press conference](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/400/cpsprodpb/da75/live/47635440-86c4-11f1-8c61-e72dd81a46e3.jpg) \n*   0:46 Thoughts on these boxing walk-out songs? 00:00:46, play video Thoughts on these boxing walk-out songs?![Image 17: Ade Oladipo on Punch Perfect](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/400/cpsprodpb/0d95/live/049b6190-869f-11f1-926f-c90d1bcfbc84.jpg) \n*   0:37 Who are the TMS team avoiding in the gym? 00:00:37, play video Who are the TMS team avoiding in the gym?![Image 18: Alex Hartley](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/400/cpsprodpb/a7be/live/09490c50-86b9-11f1-8c61-e72dd81a46e3.jpg) \n*   1:11 The sisters inspiring each other at Glasgow 2026. 00:01:11, play video The sisters inspiring each other at Glasgow 2026![Image 19: Para swimming sisters Astrid and Ursula Carroll](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/400/cpsprodpb/13ae/live/f1b82aa0-872e-11f1-bee8-53ce494e1abc.jpg) \n*   1:04 McInnes complaint 'never personal' and 'was controlled' 00:01:04, play video McInnes complaint 'never personal' and 'was controlled'![Image 20: Rangers manager Derek McInnes](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/400/cpsprodpb/944a/live/3da1c810-867e-11f1-b976-0b9c15b0ccfc.jpg) \n\n    \n\n    *   Published 4 hours ago \n\n    \n\n    \n\n## Elsewhere on the BBC\n\n## Elsewhere in Sport\n\n*   [Garnacho, Rogers and two clubs trying to balance the books](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cvg0723e0jko)  ![Image 33: A composite image of Alejandro Garnacho and Morgan Rogers\n\n](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/480/cpsprodpb/0408/live/025b9280-85d5-11f1-bee8-53ce494e1abc.png)","source_name":"BBC News","source_url":"https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c36dw0nwexxo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss","url":"https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c36dw0nwexxo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss","author":"Unknown Author","author_name":"Unknown Author","published_at":"2026-07-24T14:24:53.000Z","publication_date":"2026-07-24T14:24:53.000Z","image_url":"https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/3840/cpsprodpb/16ca/live/b2714390-8765-11f1-84de-b90328819e7a.jpg","category":"world","topic":"world","tags":[],"political_bias":null,"bias_score":null,"confidence_score":null,"credibility_score":null,"factual_quality":null,"reading_time":6,"word_count":1085,"view_count":0,"breaking":false,"breaking_news":false,"ai_analysis":null,"fact_check_status":"unverified","archive_status":"hot","language":null}}