Manchester City midfielder Rodri is coveted by Spanish giants Real Madrid and made clear during the international break that he could be interested in a potential move to the Santiago Bernabeu
Pep Guardiola and Rodri
Pep Guardiola and Rodri(Image: 2025 James Gill - Danehouse)
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Pep Guardiola insists Manchester City chiefs are determined to keep Rodri and tie him down to a new deal.
The Spain international is approaching the final 12 months of his contract at the Etihad and Real Madrid covet the Ballon d’Or winner.
Rodri himself has talked up a potential move to the Spanish giants in the last fortnight, admitting it would be hard to resist the pull of the Santiago Bernabeu and that his past association with Atletico Madrid wouldn’t stop him from heading to their city rivals.
Speaking day ahead of City’s FA Cup quarter-final clash with Liverpool, Guardiola was asked about his midfield lynchpin, who is finally getting back to something like his best after the serious knee injury he sustained in September 2024.
He insisted: "I know what the club wants. They informed me what they want from Rodri - it is to stay, stay, stay.”
Asked if that’s indeed what Rodri wants, Guardiola said: "I think so. Always I had the positive [feeling] with that but at the end I don’t know."
Whether Rodri wants to stay or not may be tied to whether Guardiola elects to remain or depart himself this summer, with speculation continuing that he could quit the club when the current campaign ends.
And Guardiola also admits that, as with others, City will not stand in Rodri’s way should he decide he wants a new challenge elsewhere - provided an acceptable offer is forthcoming.
"The organisation of the club is above all of us - if one player is not happy they have to leave," said Guardiola.
"Continue the same always if they are happy - and I think he is happy - if he is not happy, just knock on the door of the sporting director, [who will] accept an offer according to his incredible quality and after that he don’t belong to the club."
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