Manu Kone's injury record examined as Man City fans go into meltdown

Roma star Manu Kone could be signed to plug a gap after Rodri left Manchester City for Barcelona this summer.

He emerged as a target on Wednesday, 19 August, with Enzo Maresca clearly desperate to fill the void left in the middle of the park.

The reaction to the news, to put it bluntly, was not positive. Despite a fantastic 2026 World Cup campaign, the majority of fans are not convinced.

Kone has only had two seasons in Serie A after initially joining on loan from Borussia Monchengladbach in the summer of 2024, before the move was made permanent.

Following Rodri's £65million move to the Nou Camp, it is understood that Roma want £51m for their No.17, who made featured in five games at the World Cup.

The main concern around the deal for Kone, though, is around his injury record, especially since making the switch to Italian football.

Manu Kone's injury problems are stacking up

During three straight campaigns at Monchengladbach, Kone only missed the odd game here-and-there, whether that be through a strain or knock.

The 2025-26 season was far more frustrating for the 25-year-old. In January, he missed four games via a hamstring injury.

Then, just two months later, he was sidelined for one game due to muscle fatigue, only for that to turn into another hamstring issue days later.

He missed another seven games for club and country, before finally missing one more game near the end of the season due to muscle issues.

While he has rarely suffered from truly long-term issues, his spells on the sidelines certainly add up, and Maresca needs someone he can depend on.

Who else could Man City sign as Rodri's replacement?

Signing a replacement for a Ballon d'Or winner is never a simple task, especially given how much Rodri brought to the squad over the years.

Mick Brown told Football Insider that Man City are accelerating talks over a deal for Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton, but it remains to be seen if that will happen.

Of course, the most heavily-linked midfielder is Enzo Fernandez. With Chelsea's deadline passed, though, a deal for him also appears unlikely.

It would be a surprise if the deal for Bouaddi didn't happen now. If the window closed and Man City only signed him and Anderson, it wouldn't be the worst set-up at all.