Rodri relays Real Madrid transfer desire to friends as Manchester City face major dilemma | OneFootball

One of Manchester City’s greatest ever players, Rodri, has informed those close to him that he believes it is the right time to leave the club as a move to Real Madrid looms, according to new reports. 

The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner was Spain’s standout player throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament, which ended in Luis de la Fuente’s side overcoming an unsporting Argentina in New York. 

Rodri won the FIFA World Cup Player of the Tournament award for his efforts and leadership, which led Spain to their second title of its kind, and he overcame the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Jude Bellingham for the award.

It was reported on Tuesday that the La Liga club were internally reconsidering their interest in Rodri, who, in March, said that you “cannot turn down the best clubs in the world” when asked about a potential return to the Spanish capital.

Rodri fully committed to new challenge, reports suggest

Florentino Perez, the club’s president for 23 years across two distinct tenures, rejected the possibility of a transfer a few weeks ago – quite the opposite to what Enrique Riquelme, a candidate for the most recent election, claimed when he said he had verbal agreements in place with his representatives. 

But according to TEAMtalk, Rodri is ready to commit to a new challenge and embark on a similar journey to his former teammates Bernardo Silva, John Stones, and Nathan Ake, who all left the club this summer.

Rodri believes he has plenty left to offer at the highest levels in world football, and rightly so after such a remarkable FIFA World Cup campaign; the Spain international feels the opportunity to join Real has come at the right time in his career. 

It is understood that Real have informed Rodri’s camp that they will not pay more than £42.7 million (€50 million) for the 30-year-old, and would ideally like to agree to considerably less. 

Decision leaves some Manchester City fans fuming

Rodri’s decision to want Real Madrid has understandably caused a stir in some City quarters, and while the majority of fans will remember the midfielder forever – not only for the Treble, but for his likeability throughout his seven years at the Etihad Stadium – some will not take it so well.

Thousands of City supporters haven’t enjoyed the situation because of the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony, when, after hearing that Rodri had pipped Vinicius Jr. to the trophy, Real boycotted the event entirely and didn’t show up. 

“I was happy for Rodri,” former City boss Pep Guardiola said days after the ceremony, with comments relayed by BBC Sport. “But Vinicius made an extraordinary year as well. He could deserve it, like in the past when [Lionel] Messi and Cristiano [Ronaldo] were fighting for it. So, the subject is over.”

There is additional anger at the fact that Rodri, who joined City from Atletico Madrid in 2019, is committed to joining his former club’s rivals. He made 47 appearances before arriving at City, where he has since played 298 times.