Rodri has continued to reject City’s attempts to tie him down to a new contract, with Spanish journalist Ramon Alvarez de Mon reporting that the World Cup winner wants a return to Spain and is holding out for a formal offer from Real Madrid.
It’s the latest twist in a saga that’s rumbled on for over a year. Rodri’s current deal runs to 2027, and City have tabled renewal terms on more than one occasion without reaching an agreement — talks Fabrizio Romano has previously described as “on stand-by” pending Rodri’s decision.
Fresh off captaining Spain to World Cup glory and picking up the Golden Ball, his leverage in any negotiation, whether with City or a suitor, has rarely looked stronger.
The complication is Real Madrid’s own position, which has been far less consistent. Romano and The Athletic have both reported in the past fortnight that Florentino Perez has cooled on the move, with suggestions Jose Mourinho’s midfield plans centre on Aurélien Tchouameni rather than Rodri, and that his profile doesn’t obviously complement the players already in place.
Reports of genuine interest and reports of Real Madrid stepping back have run in parallel for weeks, making it hard to say with confidence which way this is heading.
What’s clearer is City’s position: with Rodri’s contract entering its final year and no agreement in sight, they face a straightforward choice this summer — sell now for a fee, or risk losing one of the best midfielders in the world for nothing next year.
