Man City’s Rodri opens door to Real Madrid move in bombshell interview | OneFootball

Rodri has opened the door to a move away from Manchester City and hinted that Real Madrid could be his preferred club of choice.

The 2023 Ballon d’Or winner has been finding his feet again in a City shirt after spending nearly all of the previous campaign sidelined with an ACL injury, before a hamstring problem derailed the first half of 2025/26.

The 29-year-old has played the full 90 minutes in nine of his last 11 Premier League outings, signalling a full return to match fitness which City will hope can influence a fightback in the title race, who trail leaders Arsenal by nine points with a game in hand.

But Rodri, speaking while on international duty with Spain, has indicated that he is thinking about his future beyond the Etihad and could be keen on a return to the Spanish capital, having joined City from Atletico Madrid in 2019.

open image in gallery

Manchester City’s Rodri has hinted at a move away (PA Wire)

"I’d like to return, yes, obviously," Rodri told Spanish radio station Onda Cero when asked about playing in his homeland again. "For me, LaLiga is where I started. I still follow it, it’s true not as much as before, but I still follow it.”

Rodri started in Man City’s Carabao Cup final win over Arsenal last weekend but was also involved as the club were dumped out of the Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid five days prior, losing 5-1 on aggregate.

Pushed on whether a move to Real - the fierce rivals of former club Atletico - would be possible, Rodri highlighted that many a player has crossed that divide before, among them Thibaut Courtois and Marcus Llorente.

open image in gallery

Rodri joins Man City from Atletico Madrid in 2019 (Getty Images)

He added: "No, I mean, there have been many players who have gone down that path, right? And especially not directly, but over time. I mean, for me, you can’t turn down the best clubs in the world.

"They have a fanbase that really goes all out for them, and for me, the Bernabeu is always incredible, a stadium that’s very imposing."

Rodri, whose contract expires in the summer of 2027, also notes that the intensity of the Premier League may not bode well with him for too much longer given his recent injury history.

"I have to admit that the Premier League is my weakness,” said Rodri, who is 30 in June. “I think it’s a thrilling league but at the same time very demanding, meaning it pushes you to the limit. I’ve been there for seven years now, and I’m noticing the passage of time, but for the moment I’m very happy there.

"I’m currently recovering from an injury, and what worries me right now is my feeling, my level, how to get back to my previous level. Not the contract issue, that will come, especially with a World Cup coming up, which is crucial for reaching my level.

"Right now I’m free, well, obviously I have a year left on my contract, obviously there will be a point where we’ll have to sit down and talk, have a conversation."