ไทย
English
中國人
Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly joined the pursuit of Manchester City's Rodri, with the World Cup-winning midfielder's future remaining uncertain.
The 30-year-old has fewer than 12 months remaining on his Etihad Stadium deal, and speculation has grown that he could be ready to depart following the conclusion of the Pep Guardiola era at the club.
When pressed about his plans earlier this summer, Rodri said: "We'll see after the World Cup." Having lifted the Golden Ball while leading Spain to glory in North America, the midfielder's reputation has soared to new heights.
Although a contract renewal offer remains on the table at Manchester City, Rodri is believed to be carefully considering his options and may be holding out for a "dream" transfer to Real Madrid. Los Blancos have long sought a midfield anchor to fill the void left by Toni Kroos, yet have been surprisingly hesitant to pursue Madrid-born Rodri.
Barcelona, PSG Enter the Arena for Rodri
Earlier this week, it came to light that Real Madrid had finally decided to explore a potential move for Rodri, though they could now face a multi-club battle for the deep-lying midfielder.
With Rodri's contract winding down, RMC Sport reports that Paris Saint-Germain "have made initial contact" regarding a potential transfer.
The report indicates that a deal for the former Atlético Madrid midfielder was not previously considered a priority, but now represents an "opportunity" in the current market.
Furthermore—and more concerning for Real Madrid—Barcelona are also said to have "entered the race," with the La Liga champions reaching out to Rodri's camp after Frenkie de Jong returned from the World Cup with torn knee ligaments.
For their part, City are eager to retain the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner for as long as possible, with RMC even suggesting they would prefer to lose Rodri on a free transfer next year rather than sell him this summer.
Who Will Win the Race for Soccer's Best Midfielder?
Having reasserted himself as the premier midfield controller in world football, the power lies firmly with Rodri this summer.
Both Madrid and Barcelona have a clear need for a player of his caliber, while his significance to Manchester City over recent seasons is beyond question.
As of now, no club appears to have submitted a formal offer to test City's stance, but should Rodri signal his wish to leave, the club would likely not stand in his way, given his age, contract status, and years of outstanding service.
Whether Madrid and Barcelona would be prepared to engage in a bidding war is yet to be determined, and both clubs may prefer to tread carefully to avoid inflating the asking price.
Enable functional cookies to see this feature.
Adding further complexity for both Clásico clubs are other major financial commitments. Madrid are close to sealing a deal exceeding €100 million for RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande, while Barça have been focused on their expensive pursuit of Julián Alvarez, though that move is still far from finalized.
On the surface, PSG have less pressing need for Rodri, but have never shied away from outbidding rivals for their targets when the opportunity arises, and are less constrained by financial limitations.