Manchester City midfielder Rodri has reportedly decided he wants to leave the Premier League champions and complete a move to Real Madrid, with talks over his future now entering a crucial phase.
Sources indicate the Spain international believes this is the right moment to embark on a fresh challenge following the end of Pep Guardiola’s era at the Etihad Stadium. Real Madrid has emerged as Rodri’s preferred destination, and the midfielder is understood to be keen on returning to Spain while he is still at the peak of his career.
Manchester City have also made their position clear.
Rather than allowing uncertainty to drag on throughout the transfer window, City have informed Rodri’s representatives they want a definitive answer well before the end of August. Club officials are eager to avoid a prolonged transfer saga and want enough time to identify a replacement should one of their most influential players depart.
Despite Rodri turning 30 this summer, City are not expected to block his departure if Real Madrid submit an acceptable offer. The midfielder himself reportedly has no intention of running down his contract, believing the club deserves to receive a transfer fee after everything they have achieved together since his arrival in 2019.
Real Madrid’s interest has intensified following Rodri’s outstanding performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he captained Spain to victory over Argentina in the final and collected the tournament’s Golden Ball award as the best player. Those displays are said to have eased previous concerns within the Madrid hierarchy regarding his fitness after a lengthy injury lay-off.
Reports suggest new Real Madrid manager José Mourinho has been one of the strongest advocates for signing Rodri, with the club’s recruitment team now united behind the pursuit. However, Los Blancos remain determined not to overspend.
TEAMtalk reports that Real Madrid have informed Rodri’s camp they are unwilling to pay more than €50 million (£42.7 million) and would ideally like to complete the deal for an even lower fee. That valuation has already been communicated to Manchester City ahead of another round of discussions scheduled for this week.
While City are prepared to be realistic over the midfielder’s value, they remain focused on reaching a swift conclusion. The club are already planning for the future after strengthening their midfield this summer and have also been linked with Lille youngster Ayyoub Bouaddi, although the preference remains for Rodri to stay if a suitable agreement can be reached.
Adding another layer of uncertainty, reports on Thursday indicated Rodri is expected to miss the start of the new season because of a back injury that could require surgery, making his long-term future an even bigger talking point as negotiations continue.
For now, Rodri has reportedly made his intentions known, Real Madrid have established the financial limits of any deal, and Manchester City are pushing for clarity before the transfer window enters its final weeks.
