Manchester City are braced for a summer battle to keep Rodri – with Real Madrid preparing an £80m bid that could rise to £100m for the World Cup winner, who has entered the final year of his contract and shown no sign of agreeing an extension.
The Spain captain, 30, returned from North America this summer having captained his country to World Cup glory and been named player of the tournament, further inflating his value. Real president Florentino Perez is said to be ready to test City’s resolve with an opening offer of £80m, and is even willing to go to £100m for a player who would be available on a free transfer in 12 months’ time.
“Man City will resist Real Madrid's £100m bid for Rodri, who has stalled on a new deal and could leave for free next summer.”
But City chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak is set to rebuff the Spanish giants, according to sources. New manager Enzo Maresca made retaining Rodri a non-negotiable condition when negotiating his own contract to replace Pep Guardiola six months ago, and plans to build his team around the midfielder – viewing him as crucial to integrating new £116m signing Elliot Anderson.
City bosses remain hopeful of tying Rodri down to a new deal, but the player has long harboured ambitions to play for Real Madrid before he retires. That raises the prospect that he could run down his contract and leave the Etihad for nothing next summer – a scenario that would represent a significant financial blow for a club that paid Atletico Madrid £62.6m for him in 2019.
Since arriving in Manchester, Rodri has won 13 major trophies, including the Treble in 2023, and claimed the Ballon d’Or in 2024 at the expense of Real’s Vinicius Junior. He is favourite to win the individual award again.
Yet there is a twist: according to the Evening Standard, Real Madrid may no longer be keen on the move. The report suggests Los Blancos have been warned off, handing City a potential boost – though the Mirror insists Perez is preparing a formal bid. Whether the two stories can be reconciled, or whether the Spanish giants’ interest is truly cooling, remains unclear as the transfer window enters its decisive weeks.