The Spain captain is on a roll after winning the World Cup and being named the tournament’s best player, but his future with the club has been in doubt for some time.
Rodri of Manchester City (Image: 2026 Getty Images)
Manchester City’s leaders will resist any attempt by Real Madrid to sign Rodri this summer.
Spanish giants Real have made winning the World Cup one of their top priorities. Rodri has entered the final 12 months of his current contract but has not agreed a new contract at Etihad Airways.
The midfielder’s stock is at an all-time high after his sensational form for Spain in North America this summer, and after certain high-profile social media accounts went haywire in recent days.
Real president Florentino Perez is said to be preparing an initial bid of £80m, and is said to be preparing an offer of up to £100m for the player, who is available on a free transfer after 12 months. But City chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak is taking a firm stance and intends to fend off rivals from the Spanish capital.
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New manager Enzo Maresca has made it clear that he wants to keep Rodri at all costs.
Maresca, who will speak to the media for the first time on Friday after replacing Josep Guardiola, laid out the condition during negotiations to become the new manager six months ago.
The Italian plans to build his team around Rodri and believes the defensive midfielder will be important in integrating new £116m signing Elliott Anderson into the squad.
Rodri contributed to Spain’s participation in this summer’s World Cup (Image: Getty Images)
City leaders are hopeful of agreeing a new contract that will secure Rodri’s long-term future. However, despite his success in Manchester, the 30-year-old has long-held ambitions to play for Real before retiring.
This means he could decide to terminate his contract next summer and leave the Etihad for free.
Rodri joined City from Atlético Madrid in 2019 for £62.6m and became one of the club’s most decorated players.
Rodri has won 13 major trophies, including the 2023 Treble, and won the Ballon d’Or in 2024 ahead of Real’s Vinicius Junior.
He is likely to win individual honors next time as well.
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