From Spain: Real Madrid hold Rodri transfer belief following Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City exit | OneFootball

Real Madrid will push to capitalise on Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City exit to try and bring Rodri to the Spanish capital this summer, as per reports from Spain.

Guardiola managed his final Manchester City game in a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday as executives at the Etihad Stadium plan for life beyond the 55-year-old Catalan, who won 20 titles in a decade in north-west England.

City sporting director of football Hugo Viana will orchestrate a major rebuild on and off the pitch at the Etihad Stadium, with backroom staff coaches Xabier Mancisidor, Lorenzo Buenaventura and Manuel Estiarte also departing.

Report: Real Madrid see Rodri opportunity

According to MARCA, Real Madrid see this summer as the perfect time to move for long-term target Rodri following the notable departure of Guardiola from the Etihad Stadium.

Los Blancos have been interested in the player since at least his Atletico Madrid days but Diego Simeone and co refused to sell to their biggest rivals.

The 15-time UEFA Champions League winners also considered Rodri as a replacement for the departing Toni Kroos in 2024 but crucially, the Madrid-born midfielder’s close connection with Guardiola made the move impossible.

Could Rodri join Real Madrid this summer?

With Rodri approaching the final year of his Manchester City contract, him playing in Madrid white has become a realistic possibility in the wake of a March radio interview wherein he admitted that he could not possibly ignore an approach from the Santiago Bernabeu.

Understandably, City are in no hurry to sell their Ballon d’Or winning star but that could change if the midfielder expresses a desire to leave – as the MARCA report states that Rodri is ‘eager’ to play for Real Madrid.

However, City and Viana have made progress in contract renewal talks with the six-time Premier League champion so it remains a case of wait and see what the summer transfer window has in store for Rodri.