Real Madrid identify Manchester City superstar as ‘next big goal’ in transfer market | OneFootball

Manchester City’s Rodri has emerged as ‘the next big goal’ for Real Madrid in the transfer market, amid ongoing discussions over whether a new contract will be signed.

As City continue to rebuild their midfield for the future, one of the most irreplaceable figures in their squad is now being lined up by Real Madrid as their marquee ambition in upcoming windows.

Rodri, fresh off winning the Ballon d’Or and cementing himself as the best holding midfielder in world football, is attracting admiration from the Santiago Bernabeu hierarchy with quiet optimism in Madrid that a deal could eventually be possible.

The speculation comes at a time when Manchester City are undergoing transition in several departments; Mateo Kovacic is sidelined with an Achilles injury, Ilkay Gündoğan’s future remains under question amid interest from Galatasaray, and new midfielders Nico Gonzalez and Tijjani Reijnders have just arrived.

While Rodri has remained central to Pep Guardiola’s system when fit, the club are yet to reach an agreement over a contract extension beyond his current deal, which runs until 2027 despite his importance having never been more evident than over the last two seasons.

When absent, City have struggled to replicate the control and balance he offers; when present, his performances are often match-defining. As seen during the club’s Treble-winning 2022/23 campaign and again in the 2023/24 Premier League title-winning season, Rodri remains the heartbeat of Pep Guardiola’s side.

But according to the information of Spanish newspaper AS, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness, the signing of the Manchester City midfield superstar is ‘the next big goal’ for La Liga giants Real Madrid.

With Los Blancos said to be prioritising the signing of a new midfielder, it is the reigning Ballon d’Or holder who has been identified as a target, and the financial power of those at the Spanish club will likely only increase through the sale of Rodrygo.

From the side of Santiago Bernabeu officials, they are said to believe that it is more feasible to sign Rodri over other targets mainly due to his expiring contract in 2027 and the absence of an extended agreement with Manchester City to date.

For the time being, Real Madrid reportedly want to see how the 29-year-old performs after recovering from his serious knee injury and believe that despite his age, the player’s best years are still yet to come.

From City’s perspective, they remain confident about retaining Rodri’s services, but the urgency to secure a contract extension may now grow in light of Real Madrid’s interest over the last few days.

The club have already shown a willingness to offer improved terms to core squad members and may soon look to do the same with Rodri – who is among the most valuable assets in world football. Whether that happens before the end of the year could be key in determining the tone of conversations next summer.

Should Real Madrid advance their interest, City may be forced into an uncomfortable position; either agreeing to one of the most high-profile midfield transfers in modern European football, or rejecting a substantial bid and risking a slow deterioration of contract leverage.

Much could also depend on how the Spaniard himself views his trajectory after the summer of 2026, with Pep Guardiola’s own long-term future at Manchester City another factor that could weigh heavily.