Real Madrid eye Man City star as 'dream signing' amid pending Pep Guardiola exit | OneFootball

Key man could be tempted to move after City were beaten to Premier League title by Arsenal

Real Madrid are looking to tee up a move to sign Rodri from Manchester City this summer, according to reports.

It is set to be a major off-season of change at the Etihad Stadium, with Pep Guardiola set to leave his position as head coach after ten years at the helm.

The Catalan’s exit could spell a swathe of outgoings in the upcoming transfer window, with the likes of John Stones and Bernardo Silva already announcing their intentions to depart upon the expiration of their contracts.

Now, City could lose yet another key player this summer, with Marca reporting that Madrid are eyeing Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner.

The midfielder has had an injury-hit campaign, featuring 29 times in all competitions after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament rupture against Arsenal back in September 2024.

He has since had niggling problems with his knee, hamstring and groin this term, limiting his involvement in City’s season as Guardiola’s men sought to accrue a domestic treble.

Injury-hit: Rodri

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That would prove not to be the case, as they were beaten to the Premier League title by Arsenal after failing to beat Bournemouth on Tuesday night.

Rodri did play in the FA Cup final victory over Chelsea, but admitting that he was “not 100 per cent” fit .

Now, however, he could have played his final game for City, if the reports in Spain are to be believed.

Marca claim that the midfielder is Real’s “dream but impossible” signing, but with uncertainty arising amid Guardiola’s impending departure, the La Liga side could see this as a perfect time to strike.

Real themselves infamously boycotted the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony in protest after Rodri pipped Vinicius Junior to the top individual honour.

It is claimed, however, that president Florentino Perez “smoothed relations” with the Spain international afterwards, which could faciliate a move back to the Iberian peninsula.