Real Madrid have contacted City to deny approaching Rodri, according to Spanish outlet AS, after reports claimed personal terms had already been agreed with the World Cup Golden Ball winner.
Yes, this is the third Rodri story on ReadManCity today — a hat-trick of sorts. But we can’t claim to have moved the story on. Sorry.
AS reports that senior figures at Valdebebas are frustrated by claims of a done deal, insisting Rodri’s style doesn’t fit Jose Mourinho’s more direct tactical approach. Officials are said to have contacted City directly to make clear no discussions have taken place.
Here’s the thing: that denial doesn’t sit easily alongside reporting from the last 24 hours.
Journalist Matteo Moretto claimed Real Madrid already had Rodri’s approval for a move and were close to an agreement in principle on personal terms, while Sky Sports separately reported a secret meeting between club officials and Rodri’s agents at a Madrid restaurant, with Real said to be preparing a contract running to 2030.
Those two versions of events don’t obviously square with “no such discussions have taken place.”
It’s worth noting Real have pushed back on Rodri reports before. When presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme claimed during this year’s election campaign that he’d sign Rodri if elected, people close to the player denied any agreement existed with him either.
As ReadManCity covered yesterday, Perez had already cooled on the move at boardroom level.
That followed news of Rodri’s back surgery. City, meanwhile, are said to be prepared to listen to offers around €60m, with Rodri yet to sign a new deal.
Three stories, one theme, and still no clarity. Whatever’s actually happening behind the scenes, official denials clearly aren’t the end of this one.
