Spain star Rodri is back in action this season at Manchester City, having put the serious knee injury that destroyed his 2024-25 campaign behind him, but his long-term future remains in question
17:00, 04 Oct 2025
Real Madrid remain keen to take Rodri back to La Liga
View 2 Images
Real Madrid remain keen to take Rodri back to La Liga
Real Madrid are plotting a stunning raid on Manchester City for Ballon d'Or winner Rodri. And the Spanish giants could tempt Pep Guardiola's men with a £130million bid for the midfield superstar.
City chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak is determined to keep Rodri at the Etihad. But there is a nagging fear at City that Rodri could be tempted by a move to the Bernabeu - particularly if Guardiola decides to leave.
So Al-Mubarak is planning to open contract talks with the 29-year-old, in the hope of keeping him out of the clutches of Real.
Rodri's current deal runs until 2027, and City would will be willing to hand him a significant wage hike, in return for the Spanish international pledging the rest of his career to the club.
READ MORE: Storm Amy forces Premier League stadium closure as statement issued ahead of fixtureREAD MORE: Inside Erling Haaland's relationship with footballer WAG whose 'embarrassing' hobby he exposed
Rodri spent the whole of last season sidelined with a serious knee injury, after undergoing surgery on ruptured ligaments.
And his absence saw Guardiola's side relinquish their Premier League title to bitter rivals Liverpool.
Rodri has been instrumental in City's stunning success since joining them from Atletico Madrid in a £62m deal in 2019. He has won 11 major trophies, including the Treble in 2023, and remains a massive part of the team's future plans.
A move to the Bernabeu would not sit well on the opposite side of Madrid, where Atleti fans have repeatedly made their feelings clear on Thibaut Courtois, who enjoyed three highly successful years under Diego Simeone when on loan from Chelsea - only to head to Los Blancos when he left Stamford Bridge on a permanent deal.
Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso
View 2 Images
Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso(Image: Getty Images)
Article continues below
Madrid boss Xabi Alonso has been chopping and changing his lineups during the opening months of his reign in the Spanish capital, and there's a belief he's not quite found the balance he wants in his midfield.
Alonso had been keen on hijacking Martin Zubimendi's move to Arsenal last summer, but he kept his word to move to the Premier League, and Madrid elected to strengthen elsewhere instead.
But splashing huge money to take Rodri to the 15-time European kings would give him exactly the kind of midfield controller he is so keen to have - and would offer Rodri what is probably his last chance to play for one of Spain's big two.