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Real Madrid's pursuit of Manchester City's Rodri appears to be faltering, as the player and club have failed to reach an agreement on personal terms, potentially paving the way for Barcelona to enter the race.
Rodri had been a top summer priority for Madrid, with the Spanish club seeking a deep-lying midfield anchor—a role that has gone unfilled since Toni Kroos departed two years ago.
Rodri, 30, has long been considered a natural fit for Madrid and has previously made positive remarks about the prospect of joining the Bernabéu club down the line.
After some initial hesitation, Los Blancos president Florentino Pérez reportedly gave the green light to pursue Spain's World Cup-winning captain this summer, with the club willing to spend upwards of €50 million ($57.75 million).
However, SPORT now reports that negotiations between Madrid and Rodri's representatives have "effectively collapsed" and "appear difficult to salvage".
Rodri is said to have been willing to sign a four-year deal at the Bernabéu, but Madrid's overall package "failed to convince him." The transfer has now been placed on hold.
Real Madrid and Rodri's Uneasy Relationship Explained
In many respects, Real Madrid's interest in Rodri makes complete sense.
Following his World Cup victory, Rodri's profile hasn't been this elevated since he claimed the Ballon d'Or in 2024. He is an undeniably elite player in a position where Real Madrid are desperately short.
Furthermore, he is a Madrid native and had less than a year left on his Manchester City contract. Finding another player of comparable quality on the market is next to impossible.
Yet there are also reasons why the pieces don't quite fall into place.
Rodri featured prominently in the recent presidential campaign of Pérez's rival, Enrique Riquelme, who pledged to reimburse all members' fees if he failed to sign the Manchester City midfielder. Riquelme lost the election in early June, and Pérez has reportedly remained uneasy about championing a policy associated with his opponent.
There was also the well-known incident at the 2024 Ballon d'Or ceremony, where Pérez led a Real Madrid boycott of football's most prestigious individual awards event after Vinícius Júnior missed out on the prize.
While Rodri and Madrid were reportedly open to transfer discussions this month, SPORT suggests these factors created a "tense backdrop" throughout negotiations.
There may also be more straightforward reasons behind the breakdown. Rodri's injury history and the fact that he has now passed the age of 30 could give Madrid reason to hesitate before offering the lucrative contract he is seeking.
Barcelona Ready to Move
Meanwhile, Real Madrid's failure to close the deal has opened the door for rivals Barcelona, who The Athletic report "have held talks with the player's camp."
Earlier reports from Spain indicated that Rodri's preference was a move to Madrid. However, at Barcelona he would be reunited with eight members of Spain's World Cup-winning squad, including Lamine Yamal, Pedri, and Ferran Torres.
Barcelona's interest in Rodri has been accelerated by the injury to midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who is set to miss a large chunk of the coming season after suffering torn knee ligaments.
With Hansi Flick's side also chasing a striker, The Athletic reports that the club would need to offload players before being able to proceed with any deal.