Rodri seems set to stay at Manchester City this summer after Real Madrid were warned off signing the injury-prone midfielder.
The Spaniard has enjoyed a fantastic summer, captaining Spain to a second World Cup title and picking up the Golden Ball along the way.
Now 30 years old, he has made no secret of his desire to return to Spain at some stage of his career and is said to be keen on a move to Real Madrid this summer.
Real Madrid interest cools
Real Madrid were not thought to be interested in a deal, but their stance had softened in the days since the World Cup final, with reports in L’Equipe claiming they were prepared to lodge a bid for the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner.
But any prospect of Real sending an offer for the player has now been dashed as reports have emerged claiming he is due to undergo surgery on a back injury.
The Athletic report he will go under the knife this summer, with his return timeline as yet unknown.
Injury setback
It is a fresh blow for the player after he struggled with injuries throughout the last two campaigns, first rupturing his ACL before suffering a number of complications and setbacks on the road back to full fitness.
In any case, this latest injury will not improve his chances of earning a high-profile transfer this summer, with Real likely to take their interest elsewhere.
Rodri is, however, entering the final year of his contract and is currently set to become a free agent in June 2027, at which stage his signature will surely be in high demand.
