Manchester City midfielder Rodri has acknowledged he is open to joining Real Madrid, despite his previous ties to city rivals Atletico Madrid. Speaking to Spanish media ahead of Spain’s upcoming friendlies, the 29-year-old Ballon d’Or winner made it clear that the prospect of playing for one of Europe’s elite clubs remains possible as his contract at City enters its final year.
Rodri, who has made 293 appearances for Manchester City since arriving from Atletico in 2019, told Onda Cero that a return to Spain—and even a move to Real Madrid—cannot be ruled out. “Having played for Atlético de Madrid doesn’t prevent me from playing for Real Madrid; there are other players who have gone that way. Not directly, but eventually. You can’t turn down the best clubs in the world,” Rodri said when asked about the possibility of wearing white at the Bernabéu.
The Spanish international has been central to City’s success under Pep Guardiola, winning four Premier League titles and one Champions League among 12 major honours. Despite suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in 2024, Rodri has returned to feature in 18 Premier League matches this season and helped City secure their 12th trophy together by beating Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final.
Rodri’s comments come as speculation grows over his future. His current deal runs out next summer, and he confirmed that contract talks with City will be necessary soon. “I have one year left on my contract; there will come a point when we’ll have to sit down and talk,” he told Onda Cero. The midfielder added that while he has not been approached directly by Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez or general manager José Ángel Sánchez, any contact would be handled through his agent: “I don’t know… they don’t talk to me. They talk to my agent.”
Rodri’s willingness to consider a move across Madrid is not without precedent. Both Thibaut Courtois and Álvaro Morata have played for both clubs after spells abroad, reinforcing Rodri’s belief that such moves are part of football’s landscape. “There have been many players who took this road, not directly but with time,” Rodri said, referencing other notable names who have navigated similar paths between Spain’s capital giants.
The midfielder’s profile remains high following a decorated run for both club and country. He was instrumental in Spain’s victory at Euro 2024 and their Nations League triumph in 2023, and now boasts 59 international caps. Despite a lengthy injury layoff last year, he continues to attract attention from top European sides—a fact underscored by reports that Real Madrid have been considering him as a midfield target for the upcoming summer transfer window.
Sources indicate that Madrid did not sign a central midfielder last summer but are weighing options ahead of the 2026-27 campaign. While emerging talents like Thiago Pitarch have recently featured alongside Aurélien Tchouaméni and Federico Valverde at Madrid, club leadership is understood to value experience and proven quality—traits embodied by Rodri.
The possibility of a move is complicated by factors including Rodri’s age and injury history. Reports suggest there are reservations within Real regarding a potential fee—figures around €50 million have been mentioned—and whether president Florentino Pérez will authorize such an investment for a player turning 30 next season remains uncertain.
Rodri himself appears eager for clarity on his future but maintains respect for all parties involved. When asked about Ballon d’Or narratives pitting him against Real’s Vinicius Jr., he downplayed any rivalry: “I think they wanted to pit Vinicius and me against each other… I have great respect for him… it’s third parties who decide who wins.”
As Rodri prepares with Spain for friendlies against Serbia and Egypt—targeting another major tournament this summer—his contractual situation at Manchester City enters a pivotal phase. Whether City move quickly to secure his future or risk losing him as interest from La Liga intensifies remains unresolved.
