Man City Strikes Back with Bold Counter-Move as Real Madrid Eyes Rodri

Manchester City are prepared to elevate Rodri to become their second-highest paid player after Erling Haaland, according to reports, as they seek to ward off persistent interest from Real Madrid.

Real Madrid are seeking a new deep-lying playmaker to replace the departed Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić, and while they have considered options like Chelsea's Enzo Fernández and Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister, they have reportedly identified Rodri as their primary objective.

With his current deal having two years remaining, Madrid view Rodri as a viable target for summer 2026, when his contract situation could force City to accept a reduced fee. However, according to Fabrizio Romano, Pep Guardiola's team is determined to prevent this scenario.

City are not only unwilling to part with Rodri but are also preparing to offer the 29-year-old midfielder a fresh contract.

The club is willing to make Rodri their second-best compensated player, trailing only striker Erling Haaland, who began 2025 by penning a new nine-and-a-half-year deal with reported weekly wages reaching £525,000 ($698,000).

Rodri now faces the decision of whether to prolong his tenure at City by accepting a deal that would essentially eliminate his opportunity to join Madrid during his peak years.

In November 2024, Rodri acknowledged to Cadena SER that he felt "privileged" to be associated with Madrid, calling Los Blancos "the greatest and most accomplished club in football history". Nevertheless, he emphasized his contentment at City and suggested he could finish his career in the Premier League.

Though Rodri claimed the 2024 Ballon d'Or following an exceptional campaign that concluded with another Premier League triumph, his value to City became most evident this past season. A severe knee problem in the campaign's fifth week disrupted City's 2024–25 season and triggered an unprecedented decline under Guardiola's management.

His comeback at the season's conclusion immediately improved performances at the Club World Cup, and City are now focused on securing Rodri's services for years to come.