Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has ruled Rodri out of Sunday’s Community Shield against Arsenal, while he expects Erling Haaland to remain available despite a minor heel concern. The fixture at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium gives Maresca his first competitive match since Pep Guardiola’s departure, and the timing presents an awkward selection problem after the 2026 World Cup disrupted City’s pre-season schedule.
The original report came from the Evening Standard, which highlighted Rodri’s recovery after back surgery and the staggered return of City’s World Cup players. Maresca confirmed that several senior players had only resumed training on Wednesday, leaving him little time to assess their readiness. Ryan McAidoo represents the main injury concern beyond Rodri, while Haaland avoided serious trouble after leaving part of an open session early.
Man City Injury update changes Maresca’s first selection
Haaland’s numbers explain why his availability matters. He scored 27 Premier League goals and supplied eight assists across 35 appearances in 2025/26, winning his third Golden Boot. Yet Maresca may choose caution after the striker missed City’s pre-season work because of his extended post-World Cup break.
Rodri creates the bigger tactical headache. The 30-year-old has returned to City training after his operation, but Maresca cannot call on him against Arsenal. That leaves City without the midfielder who helped Spain win the World Cup and collect the tournament’s Golden Ball.
Barcelona offer puts another Man City Injury question into focus
My view is that Rodri’s transfer situation now looks more serious than ordinary summer noise. Barcelona already had a €45m offer rejected, then pushed the proposal to €60m, while Cadena SER reported that the Catalan club prepared a €70m package containing €60m upfront and €10m in add-ons.
That figure matters because it sits close to the valuation City reportedly want, creating a plausible route to agreement rather than an endless standoff. Rodri reportedly favours Barcelona, while City have shown a willingness to respect the wishes of established stars if the financial terms make sense.
The football case makes sense, too. Barcelona need a press-resistant holding midfielder who can control possession under pressure, and Rodri offers precisely that profile after a World Cup-winning campaign. His 21 Premier League appearances last season yielded one goal and 21 chances created, despite earlier hamstring and groin problems.
City appear to have anticipated the possibility of change. Tijjani Reijnders is heading for Al-Qadsiah in a deal worth about £52m, while City are closing in on Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi for roughly £85m. That doesn’t prove Rodri will leave, but the sequence of moves makes the theory harder to dismiss.
Read: £102.5m bid lands with 24 hours left as Chelsea draw line
The immediate issue remains Arsenal. Haaland can give Maresca a reference point up front; Rodri cannot give him one in midfield. That distinction matters enormously on Sunday.
