New Manchester City contract updates issued on Rodri and Ruben Dias after talks placed on hold | OneFootball

Fresh details have surfaced surrounding Manchester City’s contractual talks with both Ruben Dias and Rodri in recent months, with talks currently placed on hold.

The duo have been integral to Pep Guardiola’s remarkably successful operation since their respective arrivals at the club from Benfica and Atletico Madrid, bringing both quality in their positions and much-needed leadership throughout the ranks.

Such has been their rise in stature within the first-team picture that Ruben Dias has since been promoted to the role of Manchester City vice-captain behind Kevin De Bruyne, while Rodri is part of the wider leadership group voted for by his fellow teammates.

Their absence is often felt and seen through decreased performance standards too, particularly with Rodri having missed the majority of the ongoing campaign through a serious knee injury sustained in the opening weeks of the season.

But despite his absence, Manchester City have been keen to show their upmost faith in the player and reward him for the outstanding role he has played in their success and for the staggering rise in his own personal and professional game.

That is according to the information of The Athletic’s Sam Lee, who this week reports that the most important issue on a contract front at present for Manchester City concerns the situation of Rodri amid interest from Spanish giants Real Madrid.

It is claimed that talks involving all relevant parties had been ongoing before the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner picked up his knee injury during the 2-2 draw with Arsenal last September, and there is no word on updates regarding the situation.

The report also quotes a ‘source close to the squad’ who has revealed that talks with Ruben Dias have also been placed on hold while Manchester City focused their attentions on strengthening the squad in January and renewing Erling Haaland’s terms.

However, from the side of Ruben Dias himself, it is revealed that the Portugal international hopes to extend his contractual terms with the reigning Premier League champions beyond 2027 – the same year that Rodri’s deal is due to expire at present.

Dias and Rodri make up a long list of first-team names whose futures will be assessed in the coming weeks and months, both in the way of contract extensions and potential departures from the club entirely.

Incoming sporting director Hugo Viana is expected to oversee a significant rebuild of Pep Guardiola’s squad in the coming summer transfer window, with a number of positions already identified for recruitment.

That could include the likes of full-back with Juventus’ Andrea Cambiaso and Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento as players of interest, as well as attacking midfield where Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz is believed to be the priority to succeed Kevin De Bruyne long-term.