Manchester City midfielder Rodri has publicly opened the door to a potential exit from the Etihad Stadium this summer.
The 29-year-old Spanish international, whose contract runs until June 2027, recently spoke candidly about his future. In doing so, he fueled speculation of a high-profile move, particularly to Real Madrid.
After a challenging recovery from an ACL injury suffered in September 2024, Rodri has gradually regained his commanding form. He played a pivotal role in Manchester City’s recent Carabao Cup final victory over Arsenal at Wembley. His resurgence highlights the midfielder’s resilience and importance to Pep Guardiola’s squad.
However, uncertainty now surrounds his long-term commitment.
In a revealing interview with Spanish radio station Onda Cero, Rodri refused to rule out joining Real Madrid. He even addressed his past ties to city rivals Atlético Madrid.
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“The fact that I played for Atlético Madrid does not stop me from playing for Real Madrid,” Rodri stated firmly. “You cannot refuse the best clubs in the world.”
He further emphasized that crossing the Madrid divide poses no issue, noting, “There have been many players who have gone down that path.” These comments come amid strong interest from the Spanish giants, who view the Ballon d’Or winner as an ideal addition to their midfield.
Moreover, Rodri touched on his contract situation at Manchester City, where he has served as a cornerstone since arriving in 2019.
“I have one year left on my Manchester City contract. At some point we’ll have to sit down and talk,” he remarked, deliberately keeping his options open.
Since joining the Premier League champions, Rodri has transformed into one of the world’s top defensive midfielders. He has made approximately 293 appearances across all competitions, scoring 28 goals and providing 26 to 32 assists. In the Premier League alone, he boasts 193 appearances, 23 goals, and 21 assists.
This season (2025/26), the midfielder has featured in 18 league matches, netting one goal, while contributing across around 30 games overall with two goals.
His trophy-laden spell at City includes four Premier League titles, one UEFA Champions League (where he scored the winner in the 2023 final against Inter Milan), one FA Cup, three EFL Cups, and several other honors—totaling around 11 major trophies. Individually, he claimed the 2024 Ballon d’Or, becoming the first City player to win the prestigious award, and earned UEFA Champions League Player of the Season .
