Real Madrid eye cut-price deal for Man City’s Rodri – Contract offer likely to be rejected | OneFootball

Manchester City could be subject to a low-ball approach from Real Madrid in their pursuit of Rodri this summer, as per a new report from Spain.

The 30-year-old has been one of the most discussed players in the summer transfer window, with his contract at the Etihad Stadium entering its final year and a resolution over his long-term future yet to materialise despite months of negotiations between the midfielder and Manchester City‘s hierarchy.

City are understood to have been making lucrative contract offers to Rodri for some time, seeking to tie down a player whose Ballon d’Or credentials and World Cup Golden Ball make him one of the most valuable assets in European football, but those efforts appear to have yielded little encouragement from the Spain international’s camp.

The latest update from Spain suggests the situation may be edging towards a resolution – but not one that Manchester City would welcome, with Rodri’s desire to return to his homeland and his openness to a move to the Santiago Bernabeu both becoming increasingly difficult to dismiss as background noise.

Director of football Hugo Viana faces one of the defining decisions of his tenure at the Etihad Stadium – holding firm on a player who does not wish to renew, or negotiating a fee that at least recoups meaningful value before Rodri departs as a free agent in the summer of 2027.

Report: Rodri ‘highly unlikely’ to renew as Real Madrid weigh £50M approach

According to ESPN, several sources have agreed for months that Rodri wants to return to play in Spain and would love to represent Real Madrid – a personal desire that has remained consistent throughout a summer in which Manchester City’s resolve to retain him has been repeatedly tested by external speculation.

The report adds that Rodri is “highly unlikely” to renew his contract at the Etihad Stadium, having so far rejected the offers placed in front of him despite Manchester City’s clear desire to retain their most influential midfielder, with the 30-year-old’s commitment to a move to Spain described as a long-standing and consistent position by those close to him.

With the former Atletico Madrid star’s contract due to expire next summer, Real Madrid are said to be considering a “reasonable” fee of around £50 million – a figure that would represent a significant discount on Rodri’s true market value but one that both clubs might be willing to accept given the alternative of losing him for nothing in 12 months’ time.

A “good relationship” between Manchester City and Real Madrid is cited as a factor that could help facilitate discussions, with direct communication between the two clubs having already taken place earlier this summer – lending credibility to the suggestion that the groundwork for a deal is already partially in place should both parties decide to pursue it.

What does a cut-price Rodri deal mean for Man City’s summer?

A sale at around £50 million would represent a commercial disappointment for Manchester City, given Rodri’s status as arguably the world’s finest defensive midfielder – but it would be infinitely preferable to allowing him to leave on a free transfer and receiving nothing in return should he decide to run his current deal out.

For new City manager Enzo Maresca, the prospect of beginning his debut season without Rodri at the base of his midfield presents a considerable challenge, with the Spaniard’s ability to control tempo, dictate press triggers and manage games from deep regarded as irreplaceable within the system the Italian intends to implement at the Etihad Stadium.

Whether Viana and Manchester City’s hierarchy accept a reduced fee now or hold out for a figure closer to Rodri’s actual worth, knowing the risk of losing him for nothing next summer, remains the central dilemma of a situation that is clearly moving towards departure rather than renewal.