Guardiola opens door to Rodri's Real Madrid move as Man City rush to offer new contract
Pep Guardiola has admitted he would not block Rodri from joining Real Madrid if the Spain international decides he wants to return to La Liga. The comments came as Manchester City moved to table a formal contract offer in an attempt to keep their most important midfielder at the Etihad.
Guardiola's honest admission
Guardiola was asked about Rodri's future after the midfielder told a Spanish radio station in March that "you can't turn down the best clubs in the world" when pressed on Real Madrid's interest. Rather than shutting the door, Guardiola acknowledged the pull of the Bernabeu for any Spanish player.
"I understand," Guardiola said. He made clear he wants Rodri to stay but accepted the final call belongs to the player and his family. It was an unusually open admission from a manager who has rarely entertained public speculation about departures mid-season.
City's contract push
Rodri's current deal runs until the summer of 2027, which gives City some leverage. But the club knows that if Rodri rejects the new offer, they face a choice: sell this summer for a significant fee, or risk losing him for nothing in 12 months. According to Fabrizio Romano, Real Madrid are prepared to wait for a free transfer if needed.
City have already moved to submit formal terms. The exact figures have not been disclosed, but sources suggest the offer would make Rodri one of the highest-paid players at the club, reflecting his status as the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner and the player Guardiola's system is built around.
Real Madrid's long game
Real Madrid have not made an official approach, at least not publicly. But their interest is an open secret across European football. Rodri would slot into Carlo Ancelotti's midfield as a ready-made upgrade, and the prospect of bringing home a Spanish Ballon d'Or winner carries weight in the Bernabeu boardroom.
The timing is awkward for City. Having already been eliminated from the Champions League by Real Madrid in March, all attention turns to the Premier League, where they trail Arsenal by nine points, and a saga over their best midfielder's future is the last thing Guardiola needs. But the reality is that once a player of Rodri's calibre starts talking publicly about interest from Real Madrid, the clock starts ticking.
What happens next
The ball is firmly in Rodri's court. If he signs the new contract, City can breathe easy. If he stalls, a summer transfer battle looks inevitable, with City needing to decide quickly whether to cash in or gamble on one more season. Either way, this will be one of the biggest stories of the summer window, and it has barely begun.
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