Real Madrid targeting Manchester City’s Rodri as part of €100M summer transfer spree | OneFootball

Real Madrid have identified Manchester City midfielder Rodri as a priority transfer target for the summer, according to a new report.

The Spanish heavyweights are considering a big maor in midfield ahead of the 2026-27 campaign and Rodri heads their wishlist. The 29-year-old has become one of Manchester City’s most important players since joining from Atletico Madrid in 2019, holding Pep Guardiola’s tactical structure together with his positional discipline and stellar ball control.

As the team’s deep-lying pivot, the Spain international controls the pace of the game, disrupts the other team’s transitions and often starts attacking phases with progressive distribution.

Rodri’s role has been vital to City’s continued success on the domestic, European and global fronts over the years, with the midfielder notably score the winner that clinched the Blues’ maiden UEFA Champions League title in 2023. That consistency has inevitably drawn attention from other elite clubs.

What has been reported on Real Madrid’s interest in Manchester City star Rodri?

According to Spanish journalist Alberto Pereiro, speaking on Onda Cero’s Radioestadio Noche, Real Madrid view the Spaniard as a cornerstone target for their next phase of squad evolution.

“The first €100 million that Real Madrid want to spend this summer is on Rodrigo Hernández and (Nico) Schlotterbeck,” Pereiro said, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo and relayed by Sport Witness. “Whether Madrid makes more signings depends on what they sell this summer.”

Pereiro stated that Madrid have put aside about €100 million to pursue Rodri and strengthen their defence. However, the report hasn’t specified the fee Real Madrid have allocated to offer Manchester City for their midfield maestro.

At first, Borussia Dortmund’s Schlotterbeck was one of Real Madrid’s top targets in defence but subsequent reports from Sport Witness suggested the La Liga outfit could be more interested in Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konaté.

Could Rodri really leave Manchester City this summer?

Real Madrid’s long-term recruitment strategy has mostly focused on finding new talent but signing Rodri would be a visible shift from that approach. Although the City midfielder will turn 30 in June, executives at the Santiago Bernabeu view his experience, leadership and tactical intelligence as qualities that can quickly improve the midfield balance.

Rodri’s contract situation at Manchester City may also affect the circumstances. His current deal at the Etihad Stadium expires in 2027 and if talks over an extension do not progress, the situation could theoretically open up a window for negotiations. It is worth nothing that the Spaniard’s father recently said he “doesn’t know anything” about his son’s future.

Manchester City, however, are under little financial pressure to sell Rodri. The club possesses the resources to keep important players until the very end of their contracts. This situation is especially true for players who are important to Guardiola’s tactical system. So, any possible transfer would depend a lot on what Rodri wants and the financial limits set by City.

What would Manchester City’s valuation of Rodri be?

Rodri’s current market value is around €75 million, as per Transfermarkt, which is less than what Madrid are reportedly willing to spend on a transfer. It’s not clear if the Spanish giants will actually spend a significant amount of that money on the midfielder, especially since their focus on reshaping their defence may affect how they spend it.

For now, the situation is still in the exploratory stage. The fact that Real Madrid are interested in Rodri highlights that he is still one of the best midfielders in Europe but any move would require alignment between the player, Manchester City and the Spanish club’s long-term planning.

Until such a situation arises, the Etihad Stadium remains the stage where Rodri continues to shape games and define Manchester City’s rhythm.