Rodri will not feature for Barcelona against Elche on Sunday evening, after Hansi Flick decided to omit him from the squad for the La Liga season opener.
The absence is due to fitness reasons rather than registration issues; the midfielder is officially registered in Barcelona’s squad, but the technical staff refuses to rush him into action following his late arrival.
Rodri underwent minor back surgery after the World Cup and was also sidelined from group training while his transfer from Manchester City was being finalized, prompting Barcelona to set up a dedicated fitness program for him.
The player began individual work on the grass on Friday, followed by tailored gym and pitch sessions on Saturday, away from the rest of his teammates.
Flick stated that the plan aims for Rodri to rejoin group training starting Monday, after which his condition will be evaluated gradually before he is given the green light to play.
If the program proceeds as scheduled, Rodri could make his debut against Athletic Bilbao on Thursday, August 27 at the Camp Nou, with the subsequent match against Rayo Vallecano remaining an alternative option should he require extra time.
