Rodri transfer latest: Real Madrid expected to make bid for Manchester City midfielder after prolonged interest
Manchester City's Rodri expected to be subject of bid from Real Madrid potentially worth up to £51m; Spain midfielder won Golden Ball after helping his country win World Cup this summer; City progressing to sign Lille and Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi
Thursday 30 July 2026 15:55, UK
Real Madrid are expected to make an offer for Manchester City midfielder Rodri.
Real are believed to have made initial contact with City over signing Spain's World Cup-winning captain, Sky Sports News understands.
The Spanish giants are believed to be willing to pay in the region of £43m-£51m (€50m-€60m), given he has one year left on his contract.
City do not want to sell Rodri, however, and are hoping instead to agree a new long-term contract with their talismanic midfielder.
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Rodri had successful back surgery on Monday and is currently recovering. He is expected to miss the Community Shield and the opening Premier League fixture of the season as a result.
City want him to lead the team into the new Enzo Maresca era - but Real are now ready to make their move. Upon his re-election as Real president, Florentino Perez was criticised for the club having a lack of representation in the Spain national team.
They have already signed Marc Cucurella from Chelsea this summer, and everyone at Real is thought to be on board with a move for Rodri next.
City are believed to progressing with a deal for Lille and Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Carra: Don't sell Rodri for £40-50m!
Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher:
"£40-50m? If you're Manchester City, what's the point in selling them? You might as well just keep them for the extra year.
"He's as good as anybody in that position in the Premier League, probably the best. Seeing what he was like in the World Cup, it was like he was back to his best.
"I thought the second half of the season him and Bernardo Silva were fantastic and almost took Manchester City to the title.
"So, if I was the manager of Manchester City, I'd be keeping Rodri at that price. It'd have to be something really special to want me to lose arguably the best midfield player in world football.
"I think it'd be really tough for them to win the Premier League without Rodri, even though they've got a lot of midfielders. He's the best, even though they've brought Elliot Anderson, who is one who I'm sure will learn off Rodri.
"And for me, I'd see those two as a pair. I see Elliot Anderson as almost the replacement for Bernardo Silva, who's gone to Real Madrid. So, I think that'd be a big hole. It'd be really difficult to fill.
"When Liverpool won the title under Arne Slot, Rodri got an injury in that season very early on, which helped Liverpool and was to the detriment of Manchester City. So if I was Manchester City, I'd be keeping him and letting him go on a free.
"City paid £60m for him. If they're getting £40m back now, what can they do with that type of money? Not a lot, really. So, I'd rather keep him."
How much of a loss would Rodri be to Man City?
Sky Sports' Laura Hunter:
Massive. Despite his age, and recent injury record, Rodri remains the most complete central midfielder to have operated in the Premier League over the past five years. "The best midfielder in the world by far," maintains Pep Guardiola.
Under Guardiola, City's in-play strategy revolved entirely around him, always impressing with his use of the ball and ability to receive in tight situations. He set the tempo for his team and controlled games as a result, doing the same for triumphant Spain this summer.
There is no current player who can condition a game like Rodri, and it is no coincidence City failed to retain their Premier League crown in the two seasons he was injury-plagued.
So, how is he replaced?
In short, he isn't.
But in Anderson City have got a surrogate of sorts. The England international might not yet be the dictator Rodri is but he can evolve to become something close. As a box-to-box midfielder, the 23-year-old is putting up numbers that at least mean he is comparable.
