Real Madrid formulate Manchester City transfer strategy as free exit looms | OneFootball

Manchester City may be forced into considering a summer transfer for Rodri, according to new reports from Spain looking ahead to the summer.

In recent weeks, Pep Guardiola has repeatedly underlined Rodri’s importance to his project, insisting the Spaniard would play “almost every day” if fully fit and stressing that recent absences following recovery have been purely precautionary.

Manchester City have also been reportedly confident in private that new contractual terms can be agreed, despite the midfielder’s stop-start return following a serious knee injury sustained in 2024 and subsequent muscular issues this season.

That confidence has not prevented contingency planning, with City having reportedly explored the defensive midfield market quietly, compiling a shortlist of potential long-term alternatives should contract talks stall or fitness concerns persist.

Those internal discussions were positioned as strategic foresight rather than an indication of an imminent departure, but they underline why Rodri’s contractual timeline is now being closely monitored across Europe.

Interest from Real Madrid has been a recurring theme, with some earlier reports suggesting a “growing consensus” at the Bernabéu that pursuing Rodri was unrealistic due to his transfer fee, age profile, and injury record.

Now, according to a new claim from Spanish newspaper Marca, Real Madrid will try to ‘exploit’ the possibility of Rodri entering into the final year of contract at Manchester City when the upcoming summer transfer window comes around.

This is described as being ‘familiar territory’ for the Spanish giants, where club officials ‘appear to exert pressure and lower costs’, while City could be forced to consider a possible transfer, otherwise risk losing him for free one year later.

From Manchester City’s perspective, the situation is far from urgent as club officials still believe Rodri’s priority is to return to consistent match fitness before making any major decisions on his future – a stance echoed in previous reports suggesting the player is not actively considering an exit from the Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola’s influence also remains a decisive factor, with the Catalan coach determined to build future title challenges around his midfield general. Looking ahead, much may depend on the progress of contract talks over the next six to nine months.

If an extension is agreed, Real Madrid’s leverage would evaporate quickly. If not, Manchester City could face a familiar high-stakes choice of whether to cash in while value remains, or trust their long-standing belief that Rodri’s peak years are still to come in sky blue.