Manchester City midfielder Rodri has ligament damage in his right knee, the club said Wednesday without giving a time frame for his potential absence.

The Spain international, among the favorites to win this year’s Ballon d’Or, limped off after 20 minutes of the 2-2 draw against Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.

The 28-year-old Rodri travelled to Spain on Monday to seek specialist consultation on the problem and City has confirmed he “suffered a ligament injury.” “Assessment remains ongoing to ascertain the full extent of the injury and expected prognosis,” the English champions said.

City manager Pep Guardiola said on Tuesday he expected to be without Rodri for “a long time” but revealed there were “some opinions that it will be less than we expect.”

“We’re waiting for the last phone calls from the doctors to know exactly what definitely he has and the type of surgery he has to get,” Guardiola said after City’s 2-1 win over Watford in the English League Cup.

Rodri’s absence is a major blow to City’s ambitions of winning a record-extending fifth straight Premier League title. His importance to Guardiola’s team was underlined last season when City lost four of nine games without the inspirational midfielder in all competitions. By comparison, City lost just one of 50 games with him in the team.

Guardiola said Tuesday that Rodri is the “best midfielder in the world” and described him as “irreplaceable.”

Rodri fell to the ground in pain after jostling with Arsenal’s Thomas Partey in the box at a corner and immediately called for help. He was starting a game for the second time this season after being granted an extended break by City following the European Championship, which Rodri won with Spain in July.

AP/PTI