Manchester City midfielder Rodri has stated that he will only contemplate his future after the World Cup, amidst ongoing speculation linking him with a move to Real Madrid. The 29-year-old, who has 12 months remaining on his contract with the Premier League champions, was recently identified as a potential transfer target by Enrique Riquelme, a candidate in the upcoming Real Madrid presidential election challenging Florentino Perez.
Focus on World Cup
Rodri, who has joined up with the Spanish national team for a pre-tournament training camp in Madrid, emphasised his reluctance to discuss club matters while on international duty. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, he said: "We're here to talk about the World Cup. Everything that concerns my future, I'll wait until the end of the World Cup." He added: "When a player is nearing the end of his contract, it's normal for names to come up but I am very calm, I know where I stand and if there hadn't been a World Cup, perhaps things might be different now."
Rodri's Career at Manchester City
Since joining City from Atletico Madrid for a then club-record fee of £62.8 million in 2019, Rodri has made nearly 300 appearances. His trophy haul includes four Premier League titles and a Champions League victory in 2023, where he scored the only goal in the final against Inter Milan. His success at club level, coupled with Spain's triumph at Euro 2024, earned him the Ballon d'Or that year.
Injury Struggles and Real Madrid Links
However, Rodri has faced a series of injuries since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in September 2024, which have affected his consistency. In March, he hinted at a potential return to Madrid, noting that several former Atletico players have made the switch to Real. "I'd like to return, yes, obviously," Rodri told Spanish radio station Onda Cero. "For me, LaLiga is where I started. I still follow it, it's true not as much as before, but I still follow it. There have been many players who have gone down that path, right? And especially not directly, but over time. I mean, for me, you can't turn down the best clubs in the world."
