Key caveat in Enzo Maresca’s Man City contract revealed as Rodri to Real Madrid transfer saga intensifies | OneFootball

Manchester City are set to turn down all efforts from Real Madrid to bring Rodri to Santiago Bernabeu this summer, as per a new report.

The 30-year-old arrived at the Etihad Stadium from Atletico Madrid in 2019 and has recently entered the last year of his current contract at the Etihad Stadium.

While Los Blancos’ admiration for Rodri is not newfound, the La Liga giants’ interest in signing him rekindled after his exemplary displays that led Spain to the 2026 FIFA World Cup title and earned him the Golden Ball.

Now, even though Rodri has emerged as a priority summer transfer target for Real Madrid, it appears Manchester City are not ready to part ways with their midfield maestro just yet.

Report: Enzo Maresca plans to build Manchester City squad around Rodri

Uncertainties and questions over Rodri’s future at Manchester City have been surfacing for a while now, as have been reports of Real Madrid’s pursuit of the player.

Back in March, the Spaniard addressed the growing speculations about his next steps, mentioning that joining Los Blancos is not a “closed door” for him and that he would “like to return to the Spanish league” in the future.

With a new City contract not in sight as of yet, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is reportedly preparing an initial offer of £80 million and could even consider raising the bid to £100 million for the midfielder.

While the Spanish giants appear strong-willed in their pursuit of Rodri, Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and other club officials are holding onto a firm stance against this potential transfer.

According to The Mirror, Manchester City’s new head coach Enzo Maresca wants the club to retain the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner at ‘all costs’.

The Italian tactician, who took charge after the illustrious Pep Guardiola era at City, had made the stipulation of having Rodri in the squad while negotiating his managerial deal with the Premier League giants six months ago.

The aforementioned report further suggested that Maresca plans on building his team around the Villarreal academy graduate and believes the defensive midfielder will be ‘crucial’ in integrating their new £116 million club record signing Elliot Anderson in the squad.

What’s next for Manchester City’s Rodri?

Following his injury woes in the last two campaigns, Rodri’s stellar performance for Spain in the World Cup brought back the hopes and smiles of City fans of witnessing their talisman back in action in the upcoming season.

However, there appears to be another bump in the road, as recent reports have suggested that the midfielder is set to undergo surgery on a back injury with no confirmed timetable for his return.

His setback comes at a critical time for Manchester City, as director of football Hugo Viana and Maresca have made additions and were in the process of building the squad, inclusive of Rodri as a key player, with the new campaign just a few weeks away.

In other recent developments, Real Madrid have reportedly received the Spaniard’s approval and are closing in on agreeing personal terms with him, while Manchester City are attempting to extend his stay at the Etihad Stadium.

While his upcoming medical procedure and unknown return date might stall Los Blancos’ interest for the time being, Rodri’s wishes of returning to the Spanish top-flight could see him leave City as a free agent next summer.