The world-class Spanish center midfielder Rodri has been linked with a move to Real Madrid for months now, though the links did not necessarily start with media reports from Spain or England but with the player's own words at a press conference over an international break with the Spanish national team in which he started openly making overtures to the biggest club in the world despite playing for their crosstown rivals Atletico Madrid before becoming a superstar for Manchester City.
A Ballon d'Or winner and European Champion in 2024 and a Champions League winner in 2023, Rodri has done everything he needs to at Manchester City, and now that Pep Guardiola, his mentor, has officially left the Etihad this summer, there really does not appear to be a reason for Rodri to stick around.
Real Madrid is seen as a natural next step for Rodri, and even if Enrique Riquelme, who is practically guaranteeing the Spaniard's signing, does not beat Florentino Perez in the presidential election, the 30 year old midfielder could very well be a Madridista in 2026 if the price is right.
Rodri has one last chance at Real Madrid
And it looks like, behind the scenes, Rodri is making a statement to Manchester City that he is done with them. According to information from transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, via City Xtra, the high salary Manchester City are offering Rodri in their latest contract proposal to the superstar defensive midfielder is not enough. Rodri reportedly still wants more money from Man City in order to consider signing a new contract with the Premier Legaue powerhouse.
Perhaps Rodri really does want more money and this is only a money thing, but sometimes players do this when they want a new challenge. They try to ask for more money from their current club to see if they will acquiesce, and maybe they will say yes, but sometimes the rejection is more about making the statement that they would prefer to play somewhere else and would only stay if they would get paid a disgusting amount of money to do so.
Rodri has been dreaming of Real Madrid for months, and the rumors are giving him a real chance to join a club that is craving a veteran presence in midfield who can set the tempo, create, and screen the defense more effectively than Aurelien Tchouameni. This is starting to look like a move with real legs on it, a Rodri is acting like a wiling participant.
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