Pep Guardiola holds Rodri fear as Real Madrid plot stunning move for Ballon d’Or winning midfielder | OneFootball

A new report from Spain has outlined the prospect of returning to his homeland is one that temps Manchester City midfielder and Ballon d’Or holder Rodri, which is causing worry at the Etihad Stadium.

Rodri led Manchester City to their fourth consecutive Premier League title in 2024 before spearheading his country to European Championship glory, which saw the 29-year-old become the first City player ever to be awarded the Ballon d’Or.

The midfielder suffered an ACL injury against Arsenal in September 2024 that kept him on the sidelines for nearly the entirety of the previous campaign, with Rodri only returning to action as a substitute in City’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth in May.

City added Nico Gonzalez from Porto to their midfield ranks in January – whilst Rodri was still recovering from injury – and despite suggestions that the 23-year-old could be on the move already this summer, it seems like Gonzalez is set to stay and spend the next few seasons as Rodri’s understudy.

Having made a number of eye-catching acquisitions in the ongoing transfer window, Manchester City are prioritising contract talks with a number of crucial first-team stars after reaching an agreement to renew Ruben Dias’ deal on improved terms.

Rodri and Phil Foden are next as Manchester City’s sporting director Hugo Viana looks to tie down Guardiola’s most important players to long-term contracts after what has been a sobering year on the pitch for the Blues.

Real Madrid have held a long-standing interest in Rodri, who joined Manchester City from Atletico Madrid for £62.8 million in 2019 and has established himself as the world’s best midfielder with his heroics on the pitch for the eight-time Premier League champions.

After scoring a monumental goal in the 2023 final against Inter Milan that clinched Manchester City’s premier UEFA Champions League title, Etihad Stadium bosses are convinced that they need to keep hold of Rodri and build their new-look side around the first Ballon d’Or winner in the club’s history.

On the front page of last weekend’s edition of Spanish newspaper AS, Rodri has again been linked with a stunning return to the capital of his homeland as Manchester City hold talks over a lucrative, long-term deal for the 2024 European Championship winner.

AS claim that Rodri is tempted by the idea of returning to Madrid and whilst he is aware of Manchester City’s intentions to tie him down to a new deal – which would make him the best paid midfielder in Europe and put him alongside Erling Haaland as City’s best earners – the midfielder is not in a rush to make a concrete decision on his future.

The report, which has been relayed by Sport Witness, adds that there are fears at the Etihad Stadium over the prospect of Rodri potentially deciding against committing his long-term future to the 2023 treble winners.

Xabi Alonso and Real Madrid are very keen to add Rodri to their star-studded midfield ranks and whilst there are no indications of the Manchester City star wanting a transfer, it remains to be seen whether City can convince Rodri to sign a new deal, with two years remaining on his current deal.