Hugo Viana shortlisting replacements for Manchester City star on Real Madrid’s radar | OneFootball

Real Madrid have set their sights on Manchester City midfielder Rodri, who has been described as a ‘dream signing’ for the Spanish giants, according to reports. 

The 29-year-old has been one of Pep Guardiola’s most important signings since his arrival to Manchester in 2016, notably scoring the all-important winner against Inter Milan in the 2023 UEFA Champions League final to clinch an unprecedented treble for the Blues.

Since his £62.8 million transfer from Atletico Madrid, Rodri has led City to 11 major trophies, including four consecutive Premier League titles, an FA Cup title and two Carabao Cup triumphs, among others. 

However, after sustaining an ACL injury against Arsenal in September 2024 – which meant he missed 53 games for club and country – the Spain international has struggled to re-establish regular minutes in Guardiola’s side – with recurring knee and hamstring problems frequently keeping him sidelined since a brief return to action last summer.

Real Madrid have entered the frame to pull off a summer move for Rodri, who is into his seventh season at the Etihad Stadium and has amassed 279 appearances for Guardiola.

As reported by Football Insider, Manchester City director of football Hugo Viana is leading plans to recruit a long-term replacement for the Ballon d’Or winner – amid concerns over how much longer he can keep up with the physicality and demands of Premier League football. 

Despite those reports, it is understood that Rodri is still a key component of City’s future plans but Real Madrid, who relieved Xabi Alonso of his managerial duties last week, are desperate for his return to the Spanish capital.

“That speculation with Rodri and Real Madrid is probably never going to go away. He’s a constant link. He would be a dream signing for Real (Madrid),” journalist Pete O’Rourke said on Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast.

Last summer, it was widely reported that that City were concerned about Rodri’s future amid initial interest by Real Madrid, with the midfielder now into the final 18 months of his current deal at the Etihad Stadium.

Since then, his aforementioned struggles have provided transfer pull from a Los Blancos standpoint as he drifts from the prime of his career, the entirety of which he has spent in Manchester. 

Rodri’s absence for nearly the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign proved costly for City as Guardiola recorded his worst-ever record as a manager over a 38-game Premier League season, with the Blues totalling 71 points in the recent league season. In all competitions, City fell into a deeper injury crisis and at one point, they won just a single game in 13 times of asking.

Nico Gonzalez helped soften the blow initially and is on track to become City’s next talisman in the centre of the pitch, aided by Rodri’s mentorship.

However, if the former Atletico Madrid player is to leave, it is needless to say that a void – just like the one Kevin De Bruyne left when he departed for Napoli in 2025 – will dampen the club’s chances of success in the seasons to come.