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Manchester City star Rodri looked utterly dejected as he limped off the pitch against Brentford following another injury setback.
The Spain international made a beeline for the tunnel after being forced off during the first half of the Premier League encounter. Pep Guardiola's crucial midfielder was substituted by Nico Gonzalez after just 20 minutes.
Rodri had managed only his 15th City outing since the conclusion of 2023/24, having missed the majority of last campaign through injury.
The disheartened player initially remained stationary in the middle of the pitch, visibly irritated, before slumping onto the grass and shaking his head whilst waiting for the club's medical staff.
A teammate tried to help Rodri back to his feet, but the 29-year-old declined the offer of support. The former Atletico Madrid midfielder trudged off the field wearing a dejected expression. It seemed Rodri had sustained a hamstring problem on this particular occasion.
This marks the second occasion the Ballon d'Or recipient has been withdrawn during the opening 45 minutes in his previous five Premier League outings.
Pundit and ex-Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer commented, "Man City have brought Rodri back in gently, but sometimes it's just the way it is. Hopefully, it is not too serious. Believe it or not, I tore my hamstring and I was only out for 12 days. It all depends how bad the tear is."
Ahead of the Brentford match, Guardiola spoke about managing Rodri's game time following his significant injury last season.
"Rodri can't play 90 minutes in many games, and González was very, very good against Burnley and he's improving," Guardiola stated.
"(Mateo) Kovacic isn't ready, and Rodri can't play much. He made a huge effort the week we played United, Napoli and Arsenal, but I have to protect my players. Look at what happened to (Dani) Carvajal at Real Madrid and other players who keep relapsing.
"I told Rodri that it's not a six- or seven-month story. It's not: 'I come back, I play and I become the Rodri of before.' No! The real Rodri, we'll see him at the 2026 World Cup with Spain, and from next season, he'll be at his best.
"This season, the challenge is to manage things step by step. It's normal. For a year, he lived on the treatment table. The body changes, the rhythm changes, everything changes. He just needs time. And he'll come back."
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