Barcelona Must Confront Rodri's Injury Past—But Let It Fuel Ambition, Not Doubt

It required a last-minute swoop to outmaneuver Real Madrid, three separate offers, and a package valued at up to $87.8 million (€76.5 million) to secure Rodri for Barcelona this summer, and the reigning Spanish champions are thrilled to have landed the 2026 World Cup Golden Ball recipient.

The move, which Rodri described as a "dream" upon arriving in Catalonia, has been confirmed with a deal running through 2030. However, it carries considerable risk for Barcelona. The financially-stretched club paid above their preferred price for the midfielder, who is 30 years old and has a troubling injury record.

With ambitions of claiming a first Champions League crown since 2014–15 and securing a third straight La Liga title, the Catalans will be hoping Rodri can stay fit and avoid lengthy absences throughout 2026–27.

His recent injury track record, however, gives Barcelona plenty of cause for concern.

Rodri's Recent Injury Battles Sound Alarm Bells

During the peak of Manchester City's dominance under Pep Guardiola, Rodri was an indispensable figure in the manager's starting lineup. The Spanish international made more than 50 appearances in four of his first five campaigns at the Etihad Stadium, missing a combined total of just 21 days, according to Transfermarkt.

Rodri was never associated with fitness concerns, but that all changed in 2024. The midfielder went straight from making 50 appearances for City in their Premier League title-winning 2023–24 season to representing Spain at Euro 2024.

He then picked up a hamstring problem in the final against England, which kept him sidelined beyond the start of the 2024–25 campaign. Upon his return at the end of August, his time on the field proved brief; after just three outings, the Spaniard suffered an ACL tear.

He collected his 2024 Ballon d'Or on crutches, and was finally declared fit in April after 220 days out, only to suffer a fresh setback that kept him out until late May. Rodri eventually made his comeback—a seven-minute substitute appearance in City's second-to-last match of the season—before setting his focus on the 2025 Club World Cup.

Rodri's Recent Injury History

*Statistics per Transfermarkt.

After an injury-plagued season, Rodri appeared to have turned a corner. He featured in all four of City's Club World Cup matches in 2025, but suffered another blow in the round of 16, once again forcing him to miss the beginning of the following season. A further knee issue soon followed, sending a recently recovered Rodri back to the treatment table in September.

Then came a hamstring problem in October, followed by yet another setback in November. Those two issues alone kept Rodri off the pitch for 79 days, causing him to miss 19 matches for both City and Spain.

Rodri was finally given the all-clear after the Christmas period and reclaimed his spot as a regular starter in Guardiola's side … until April, when a groin strain sidelined him for just under a month.

A restful summer would have served Rodri well after enduring five separate injury problems in 2025–26, but he had a World Cup to compete in—and ultimately win. The 30-year-old featured in all eight of Spain's matches this summer as they lifted the trophy, yet barely had time to celebrate before undergoing back surgery immediately after the tournament.

Barcelona Willing to Roll the Dice—But Will They Regret It?

It would be shortsighted for Barcelona to overlook Rodri's injury record before committing a guaranteed fee of $68.8 million (€60 million) for his services, excluding add-ons. Last season alone, he was absent for 134 days, and he is still recuperating from his post-tournament surgery this summer.

Nevertheless, the Catalans are clearly prepared to take that chance and invest heavily in an injury-prone player if it means acquiring the finest defensive midfielder on the planet—and preventing him from joining Real Madrid.

The ideal outcome is for Rodri to stay fit throughout 2026–27 and steer clear of serious setbacks. However, things could quickly unravel for Barcelona if he requires a prolonged absence, especially given that Frenkie de Jong is also managing a long-term knee problem.

Hansi Flick, however, has a well-stocked midfield to fall back on in a worst-case scenario. The German manager used Gavi and Pedri as his double pivot for much of the second half of last season, and Barcelona still clinched the La Liga title with an eight-point cushion over second-placed Real Madrid.

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The Catalans have proven they can succeed without De Jong, and they have won five trophies over the past two seasons without Rodri in their squad. If the new arrival misses significant time, Barcelona are not drastically worse off; they still boast the strongest midfield in Spain.

The true impact would be felt in the Champions League, where Rodri's experience and quality could prove decisive in the club's pursuit of European glory.

It is undeniably a gamble, but since Flick took charge, Barcelona have consistently found a way to come out on top regardless of the obstacles in their path.