Rodri coy on Manchester City future as Hugo Viana eyes breakthrough in contract talks | OneFootball

Rodri has refused to rule out an exit from Manchester City this summer amid interest from Real Madrid.

Manchester City have been heavily dependent on Rodri’s presence at the base of midfield ever since he arrived from Atletico Madrid in 2019. The Spaniard’s leadership and positional discipline are essential to the team’s tactical identity.

Rodri‘s influence is evident whenever he is available, even in a season where the team’s performances have been inconsistent.

A serious ACL injury and meniscus damage suffered in September 2024 in a Premier League fixture against Arsenal sidelined the Spain international for a prolonged period.

Rodri’s Man City return in numbers

His return to fitness has been slow and in the first few months of the current season, he had some small setbacks that made it challenging for him to get back into full match-sharpness.

However, in the last few weeks, his condition has improved. Rodri has accumulated over 1,200 league minutes across 18 Premier League appearances this season.

His numbers this season are consistent with his established level, indicating that he can regain influence in midfield – 1.9 tackles, 5.1 ball recoveries, 1.9 clearances, a 63% success rate in ground duels and a 78% success rate in aerial duels per game highlight his continued reliability.

However, City’s overall performances have been inconsistent. A recent 1-1 draw with West Ham United demonstrated that the creativity in the final third is still a problem for Pep Guardiola’s team this season.

Real Madrid to test Man City resolve to keep Rodri

The result added to a pattern of dropped points that have left City with a mountain to climb in the title race against Arsenal, who are nine points clear at the top of the Premier League table ahead of this weekend’s Carabao Cup final face-off between the pair at Wembley.

Speculation on Rodri’s imminent future after this season has started gaining attention. In the last few weeks, there have been new reports about the midfielder’s ongoing links with Real Madrid

Los Blancos are prioritising a swoop for Rodri in the coming transfer window, with less than 15 months left on the 29-year-old’s current deal at the Etihad Stadium and no indication at present of a renewal beyond 2027.

After Manchester City’s recent 1-1 draw with West Ham in London, Rodri acknowledged his frustrations over the Blues’ inconsistencies and was quizzed on his club future by Cadena Ser.

Rodri on Man City future: We’ll see after this season ends

Yes, a little frustrated, but that’s pretty much the theme this season,” the former Atletico Madris star said, as quoted by AS and relayed by Sport Witness.

“We’re struggling in that final third. The ‘last third’, as they say here in England. That quality to score the final goal. Perhaps it’s costing us a lot, but in football, the most important thing is putting the ball in the net.”

When asked directly about the possibility of leaving Manchester City this summer, Rodri refused to offer a clear answer. “No, no. I’m not going to answer that,” he said. “It’s a time to think about what we have now, with my team, about my season, which is quite a lot – and then we’ll see.”

The response leaves open the possibility of the Ballon d’Or winner – who Transfermarkt values at €65 million – making a decision on his future near the end of the season. However, without great clarity on an extension, the situation could develop into a crucial consideration for City’s planning.

What’s next for Rodri and Man City after Champions League exit?

For now, the four-time Premier League winner will be desperate to help turn the ship around for Manchester City, who have endured a horrible few weeks and seen their title hopes falter as well as witnessed an exit from the UEFA Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid.

Guardiola and co must win in the Carabao Cup final to regain the momentum they have lost this month as they bid for a miraculous albeit improbable hijack of what is increasingly looking like a first Premier League title for Arsenal in 22 years.

Rodri’s comments indicate that he is putting short-term targets ahead of long-term ones. For Manchester City, that uncertainty makes things more complicated for one of Guardiola’s most important players.

Any decision that is made will probably have significant consequences for the club’s midfield structure for years to come, though Manchester City director of football Hugo Viana and co are ahead of the curve in recruitment – having put themselves in pole position to sign Nottingham Forest and England midfielder Elliot Anderson this summer.