Real Madrid pursuing Rodri

By Sanjay Menon — 24 July 2026 — 7 min read

Real Madrid pursuing Rodri

Real Madrid is reportedly working on a deal to sign midfielder Rodri from Manchester City. While club-to-club talks have not yet occurred, Madrid is confident that an agreement can be reached. The Spanish club is operating with the expectation that Rodri could join them.

Rodri, who is 30 years old, has entered the final year of his contract with Manchester City, which is set to conclude in 2027. City remains in discussions with the midfielder regarding his future and hopes he will be part of Enzo Maresca’s squad for the 2026-27 season.

Sources at Madrid had previously indicated that Rodri was not part of their plans this summer. However, the club’s position has changed following his return from the World Cup. His performance level and his role in Spain’s triumph were factors in their decision to pursue him.

The Spain international would be among the latest players to depart City this summer. Pep Guardiola concluded his decade in Manchester and was replaced by Maresca. Additionally, John Stones and Bernardo Silva have left after their contracts expired, with Silva moving to Madrid.

Reports from July 21 suggested that discussions about Rodri’s future at City were anticipated after the World Cup. During the tournament, Rodri won the Golden Ball. He started and captained his side in all eight matches at the World Cup as Luis de la Fuente’s team secured back-to-back major tournaments, following the European Championship in 2024.

Rodri is expected to undergo surgery, though a return date is unconfirmed. He has previously expressed a desire to return to his home country during his playing career and the appeal of representing Real Madrid.

“Would I like to play in Spain again, in La Liga, in Madrid? I would like to return, yes, obviously,” Rodri told reporters in Spain during March’s international break. “Having played for Atletico before would not prevent me from playing for Real Madrid … there are other players who have done that before. Maybe not direct transfers, but eventually. You can’t turn down one of the world’s best clubs.”

Rodri returned to action for City in May 2025 after an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury sidelined him for much of the 2024-25 campaign. He made appearances across all competitions during the 2025-26 season, interspersed with two periods out due to hamstring and groin issues.

City’s midfield situation

City has strengthened its midfield this summer with the £116 million signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest. Reports from July 14 also indicated that City was pursuing the signing of Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi, 18, from Lille, who performed well at the World Cup.

When asked about Rodri during his initial City press conference on Friday, Maresca stated, “Around big players there is always speculation. I’m not worried about that. I think it’s normal. Also because they won the World Cup, he was the best player or one of the best players. Every manager wants to have Rodri because he’s a top player.”

Maresca added, “But now surgery on I think Monday. He needs holiday. He needs to rest. He needs to recover and then he will be back here with us.”

The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner joined City from Atletico in 2019. During his seven years at the club, he has won four Premier League titles, the FA Cup twice, the League Cup on three occasions, and the Champions League in 2023, where he scored the winning goal in the final.

He has made 298 appearances for City, contributing 28 goals and 32 assists.

Implications for both clubs

The potential arrival of Rodri would be significant news for Madrid fans. Despite initial reluctance from president Florentino Perez and general manager Jose Angel Sanchez in recent months, the club’s change of heart aligns with supporter sentiment. Both the club and its fanbase now view this as an ideal move to acquire a world-class player who has just won the World Cup as Spain’s star player and has long desired to join Madrid.

However, the signing could also involve some risk. Madrid typically shows caution when investing substantial amounts in players nearing 30 years of age. Rodri sustained a serious knee injury in 2024, which was followed by muscle injuries.

His performance at the World Cup has reportedly eased many concerns about his physical condition, shifting the focus to his potential contributions to the team. Rodri’s presence could strengthen an area where the coach had sought additional signings, potentially bringing balance and a boost to the team.

Internally, Rodri’s experience, leadership, and work ethic could make him a key player in the dressing room, an area that has reportedly been a concern over the past two seasons.

For City, this news could be a difficult development. The club has been attempting to secure a new contract for Rodri for over a year, aiming to avoid reaching the final year of his current deal. His delay in signing an extension suggests that a move has been on his mind for some time, a possibility City was aware of, though they hoped to prevent it.

Those close to Rodri know that playing for Madrid has been a long-term goal for him, despite his previous time at Atletico. The unexpected element in this potential transfer is Madrid’s previous reluctance to sign him until recently. Club sources had indicated that key decision-makers, including Perez and coach Mourinho, were not considering his signing. However, Rodri’s role in Spain’s World Cup victory appears to have altered this stance.

This situation presents a challenge for City in midfield and across the pitch. The team has generally performed better with Rodri in the lineup, even after his return from a knee injury when he was not yet at his peak level. City did find strong form at the end of 2025 despite his absence, with Nico Gonzalez beginning to excel. The club will need to continue finding such solutions moving forward.

Among fans, there may be differing opinions regarding the move. Some may wish him well, acknowledging his right to move, while others might express anger, partly due to how Madrid reacted to his 2024 Ballon d’Or victory over Vinicius Junior. These discussions are expected to continue, but City has already begun efforts to find solutions without Rodri.

Meanwhile, other transfer news includes Arsenal considering a player-plus-cash deal for Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, 26, which could involve 28-year-old Sweden forward Viktor Gyokeres moving to the La Liga club. Roma is reportedly interested in signing Norway winger Oscar Bobb from Fulham, despite the 23-year-old having joined Fulham from Manchester City just six months ago.

Paris St-Germain has not yet submitted a formal bid for RB Leipzig’s Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande, 19, offering hope to clubs like Liverpool, Arsenal, Real Madrid, and Manchester City. Newcastle’s Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, 28, remains Arsenal’s primary target this summer, with Bournemouth’s England international Alex Scott, 22, also being considered as a midfield option.

Arsenal’s offer for Guimaraes is expected to be rejected by Newcastle, though the player is reportedly keen on joining the Gunners. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is reportedly willing to pay a significant amount to secure Guimaraes. Manchester United is not looking to sell captain Bruno Fernandes, 31, despite speculation linking the Portugal midfielder with a move away from Old Trafford.

Como is expected to meet with Chelsea on Saturday to discuss the signing of England defender Trevoh Chalobah, 27, who will not be allowed to leave for less than a certain amount. Chelsea has also submitted an initial offer for 18-year-old Bayer Leverkusen and Bosnia-Herzegovina winger Kerim Alajbegovic. Arsenal and Hamburg are in talks regarding 26-year-old Portugal midfielder Fabio Vieira, who wishes to join the Bundesliga club after a loan spell there last season. England striker Marcus Rashford has been invited to participate in a Manchester United documentary by Amazon, suggesting that senior figures at the club intend to keep the 28-year-old.

Source: nytimes.com