Manchester City are preparing for pivotal discussions with Rodri that could determine whether the Spanish midfielder remains at the Etihad Stadium beyond the expiry of his current contract.
The 30-year-old has entered the final year of his deal, with contract negotiations having made little progress in recent months. That uncertainty has alerted Real Madrid, who continue to view the Ballon d’Or winner as one of their dream signings.
Despite the growing speculation, City’s priority is to keep Rodri at the club.
New head coach Enzo Maresca reportedly considers the Spain international a cornerstone of his long-term project and believes his leadership, experience and ability to dictate games will be vital as Manchester City begin a new era following significant changes this summer.
Rodri’s influence extends well beyond his performances on the pitch. Club officials see him as one of the dressing room’s key leaders, while Maresca is said to view him as the ideal figure to help guide the next generation of City players.
Real Madrid, however, remain firmly in the picture.
Club president Florentino Pérez has long admired Rodri and reportedly believes the midfielder possesses the qualities needed to become the leader of Madrid’s next great team. Following the departures of Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić, the Spanish giants see Rodri as the type of player capable of controlling matches while setting standards on and off the field.
According to reports, Rodri is aware of Real Madrid’s admiration and has not ruled out any option.
While signing a new contract at Manchester City remains a realistic possibility, no breakthrough has been reached, making the next round of meetings increasingly significant.
Those discussions are expected to take place after Rodri returns from the FIFA World Cup in August.
TEAMtalk reports that the midfielder is scheduled to meet sporting director Hugo Viana and Maresca to discuss the club’s long-term sporting project, the manager’s vision and Rodri’s role within it. The outcome could determine whether contract negotiations are revived or whether preparations begin for a possible departure when his deal expires next summer.
Manchester City remain hopeful they can persuade one of the world’s best midfielders to commit his future to the club, but they are equally aware that prolonged uncertainty would only strengthen Real Madrid’s chances of eventually securing his signature.
For now, City’s focus is on convincing Rodri that he should remain at the heart of Maresca’s rebuild. Whether that results in a contract extension or the midfielder seeing out the final year of his deal before making a decision remains one of the biggest questions of the summer transfer window.
