A. Romano
UEFA U17 Championship · Midfielder · #60 · Switzerland · 19 yrs
A. Romano news
Enzo Maresca confirms Rodri’s back surgery: For how long will the Manchester City star be out?
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca confirmed that Rodri will undergo surgery on his back and will be out for a while. Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Rodri will undergo back surgery, addressing a lumbar issue the Spanish midfielder had been carrying for some time. The procedure is set to take place in the coming days, just weeks after Rodri returned from Spain’s triumphant run at the 2026 World Cup. “Rodri is going to have surgery for a back problem, I think on Monday. He needs a vacation and a few days of rest. He has to recover and then he’ll come back here with us,” Maresca said in a press conference. The 30-year-old had reportedly considered having the operation before the tournament, but chose to postpone it in order to be available for Spain’s campaign. That decision paid off on the pitch, as Rodri lifted the trophy with his country and was named winner of the Golden Ball as the tournament’s outstanding player. Now, with the World Cup behind him, he’s turning his attention to fixing the issue that had been bothering him. 🚨 Enzo Maresca: “Rodri will have surgery on a back problem on Monday. He needs holiday, he needs to rest, recovery, and then he will be back here with us”.“Every manager wants to have Rodri, because he's a top player”. pic.twitter.com/UIr5wlj6S9— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 24, 2026 Details on the severity of the surgery have varied depending on the source, which has left some uncertainty over exactly how long City will be without their captain. What’s clear is that the club is treating the procedure as necessary to get Rodri right for the long haul of the new campaign, even if it means missing the opening weeks. When could Rodri return? Reports out of Spain, have characterized the operation as a minor, outpatient procedure that won’t require hospitalization and shouldn’t sideline Rodri for much more than four weeks, suggesting he could be back within the early stages of the season. However, other reports have painted a more cautious picture: both Yahoo Sports and NBC Sports have suggested that back surgery of this kind can require a lengthier recovery, potentially keeping Rodri out for multiple months rather than weeks. Until Manchester City provide a firmer timeline following the procedure, the exact date of his return remains unclear. Which matches could Rodri miss? Under the more conservative recovery estimates, Rodri is set to miss Manchester City’s Community Shield clash with Arsenal on August 16, along with the Premier League opener against Bournemouth on August 23. From there, he’d also be sidelined for matches against Crystal Palace and Coventry, as well as the Manchester derby against Manchester United on September 13, before the squad breaks for the international window in September. Should the longer recovery timeline prove accurate, that absence could stretch well beyond that stretch of fixtures.
Frenkie de Jong clears the air about his injury amidst growing rumors of tension with Barcelona
Frenkie de Jong addressed his injury and responded to rumors suggesting a rift between him and Barcelona. Frenkie de Jong has broken his silence after weeks of speculation surrounding his recovery from a knee injury and his standing at Barcelona. The Dutch midfielder returned from the World Cup with a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee, an issue that could keep him sidelined for around four months. “Normally, I don’t pay much attention to what is written about me, but recently there has been a lot of speculation about my injury and my situation at Barcelona… During the World Cup, I got injured on my knee. After the first assessments, the doctors told me it was a small injury and that it wouldn’t get worse if I continued playing,” De Jong began in a post on his Instagram account. The injury reportedly worsened during the Netherlands’ Round of 32 match against Morocco, where De Jong played through 110 minutes despite already carrying the problem, having received pain-blocking injections to remain available for his country during the tournament. De Jong explained that once he returned to Barcelona, further examinations revealed the injury was more serious than initially believed, though surgery isn’t required for his recovery. 🚨🇳🇱 Frenkie de Jong statement. 🔵🔴 pic.twitter.com/XC3RP3XzpI— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 23, 2026 “In my holiday, I returned to Barcelona for further examinations. These showed that the injury was more serious than initially determined. Thankfully, at this stage there is no need for surgery, and I am now fully focused on my recovery and returning to the pitch as soon as possible,” he added. De Jong reaffirms his commitment to Barcelona In the aftermath, reports emerged suggesting Barcelona felt misled by the Dutch federation over the true severity of the issue, while also pointing to friction between De Jong and coach Hansi Flick over how the situation was handled. That combination of a serious injury and swirling institutional tension fueled speculation about De Jong’s short-term future at the club. De Jong, however, made clear that he remains fully committed to both Barcelona and the Netherlands national team, brushing aside any suggestion of a rift with the club. “Playing for Barca and Oranje is something I feel incredibly proud of, and my commitment to both will never change. I will continue to give everything for this badge, for my teammates and for our fans. There are still many moments to create and goals we want to achieve together. Thank you for all your support. I can’t wait to be back. Visca Barca Sempre,” De Jong concluded.