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Real Madrid have reportedly initiated club-to-club talks with Manchester City regarding a potential transfer for midfielder Rodri.
The 2026 World Cup-winning captain has become Madrid's primary central midfield target in recent weeks as the club pushes to reshape its squad ahead of the upcoming season.
Following his re-election as club president in early June, Florentino Pérez brought in José Mourinho as manager, with the aim of steering Madrid out of a prolonged period of underperformance.
Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konaté and Denzel Dumfries have all been acquired during this transfer window, with RB Leipzig starlet Yan Diomande expected to join for in excess of $100 million.
One position that had yet to be addressed was central midfield, with the club reportedly in search of a deep-lying playmaker—a role that has been largely absent at the Bernabéu since Toni Kroos departed in 2024.
Earlier in the window, it had been suggested that Pérez was not keen on pursuing Manchester City's Rodri. That stance, however, appears to have shifted. Fabrizio Romano reports that Madrid have lodged a formal approach for Rodri, with "verbal discussions" now in progress.
Pérez is said to have personally sanctioned the move, with Madrid reportedly willing to invest over €50 million ($57 million) to secure their target, who has just one year remaining on his current deal in England.
Why Has Pérez Changed His Mind on Rodri?
For the majority of the summer, it appeared that Pérez was content to let the opportunity to sign Rodri slip away.
The 30-year-old featured prominently in the campaign of rival presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme, with the renewable energy businessman boldly pledging to refund all membership fees should he fail to bring in both Rodri and his City teammate Erling Haaland.
Pérez, by contrast, seemed to distance himself from his challenger's promises, with numerous reports suggesting the sitting president was personally opposed to the move—despite the clear benefits of acquiring a genuinely world-class player who is Madrid-born and addresses a specific squad need.
The 79-year-old has long been known for his reluctance to pursue older, more defensively-oriented signings, perhaps even more so when those players are linked to his rivals.
However, circumstances appear to have shifted. Rodri elevated his standing at the 2026 World Cup, setting passing records en route to claiming the tournament's Golden Ball as Spain claimed glory in North America.
Reports over the past week suggest Pérez is now receptive to the transfer, with negotiations underway. Madrid have a well-documented history of being swayed by standout World Cup performances—though the absence of comparable alternatives in the market may also have played a role in changing the club's position.
Is €50 Million Enough to Sign Rodri?
With only a year left on Rodri's contract, the prospects of Madrid completing a deal appear favorable.
With Pep Guardiola also departing Manchester City this summer, the Spain captain may feel this is the ideal moment to seek a new challenge. Should he opt against signing the contract extension currently being offered, City will have only this window and January to recover any meaningful transfer fee.
Rodri has spoken warmly about Madrid in the past, telling Cadena SER in 2024: "When Real Madrid call you, the best club in history, the most successful, everything that means ... Obviously, it's an honour and you always have to pay attention, of course."
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According to Romano, Madrid are prepared to offer approximately €50 million—less than half of what they are spending on Diomande, or what City have invested this summer on new midfield addition Elliot Anderson. Nevertheless, Rodri's contract situation means City will be unable to demand an inflated fee, despite his status as the finest player in the world in his position. Age and fitness are also considerations, with the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner now past 30 and expected to miss the beginning of next season following back surgery for a recurring problem.
Despite featuring throughout this summer's World Cup, he missed 24 matches due to various injuries over the course of the 2025–26 season.