Revealed: Manchester City officials’ outlook on Rodri and potential Real Madrid transfer | OneFootball

Manchester City executives are planning for next season with the viewpoint that Rodri will stay at the club, as per a new report.

The Blues are bracing themselves for transfer interest from Real Madrid in the Spain international, who has recently opened the door to moving to the Santiago Bernabeu as he approaches the final year of his Manchester City contract.

Rodri has spent a majority of the last 18 months on the sidelines nursing a range of injuries but has returned to regular first-team action since January 2026, with Manchester City vying for a domestic treble in their first full campaign under director of football Hugo Viana.

In a recent interview with Spanish radio station Onda Cero, the midfielder has flirted with the prospect of joining Real Madrid at some point in the future, with his contract situation at the Etihad Stadium yet to be sorted beyond 2027.

Could Rodri join Real Madrid this summer?

Real Madrid are believed to be keen to test the waters for a swoop for Rodri this summer, with the Ballon d’Or winner turning 30 amid a desire to return to his hometown, Madrid.

Rodri has clarified that his past at Atletico Madrid will not deter him from making the sensational switch across town to Real – a path trodden by many a player in the past.

Manchester City officials are expected to sit down with the Spaniard’s representatives in the coming months in the hope of securing his long-term future and fending off interest from Madrid for the time being.

However, should a contract renewal not be agreed upon and if Rodri expresses a desire to quit Manchester City at the end of the season, Viana and co will look to cash in on the club’s first-ever Ballon d’Or winner this summer to avoid the risk of losing him for nothing in 2027.

Report: Man City planning with Rodri for next season

City officials are prioritising contract talks with Phil Foden and Rodri ahead of the summer, with a mass exodus expected from Guardiola’s first-team squad ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

While Manchester City are eyeing a deal for Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson – and monitoring Sandro Tonali‘s contract situation at Newcastle United – the Blues are planning for the new season with Rodri, as reported by Simon Bajkowski for the Manchester Evening News.

Viana and co are leading the race to sign Anderson, valued at £80 million, and are expected to progress negotiations for the 23-year-old before he jets off across the Atlantic to represent the Three Lions at the FIFA World Cup.

Rodri has clarified his interview with Onda Cero and pleaded for his comments to be listed to in full and not taken out of context by means of listening to mere snippets on social media.