
Real Madrid Learn Rodri Response to Renewed Transfer Interest
Madrid Eye Man City’s Midfield General as Kroos Successor – But Is Rodri Even Listening?
The search for Toni Kroos’s heir at Real Madrid has taken the club’s attention to one of Europe’s most dominant midfielders — Manchester City’s Rodri. But despite Los Blancos’ admiration, the player they’re chasing doesn’t seem particularly eager to return their interest.
According to Spanish outlet Cadena SER, the reigning La Liga champions had earmarked Rodri as the perfect player to fill the void left by Kroos’ retirement. After all, few midfielders in the world today control a game quite like the Spaniard — calm on the ball, intelligent off it, and a master at dictating tempo.
However, there’s one major roadblock: Rodri isn’t for sale, and more importantly, he doesn’t want to be.
Rodri’s Response: Calm, Clear, and Committed
While still recovering from the ACL injury that sidelined him back in September, Rodri’s stance on his future hasn’t wavered. He’s happy in Manchester, settled at a club that believes in him, and still has ambitions to fulfill in sky blue.
“When I sign contracts, I don’t think about other teams. I just think about finishing what I’ve started,” Rodri said earlier this season. “So yes, I have a contract with City, and there’s nothing else I can say.”
Those remarks, now echoed by fresh reporting from SPORT BILD, make it abundantly clear: while Real Madrid may want Rodri, the feeling simply isn’t mutual — at least not right now.
The Madrid Dream: Still Alive?

Rodri is the current Ballon d’Or holder / Visionhaus/GettyImages
It’s worth noting that Rodri is a Madrid native. Born and raised in the Spanish capital, a move to the Bernabéu would, on paper, be a poetic homecoming. But life — and football — rarely play out like fairy tales.
Rodri came through the youth ranks at Atlético Madrid before moving to Villarreal to earn first-team experience. He returned to Atleti for the 2018–19 season, and then made the leap to Manchester City in 2019 for a club-record fee of £63 million.
Since then, he’s developed into one of the most crucial players in Pep Guardiola’s side — a midfield lynchpin whose absence is deeply felt, as this season has shown.
Still, for all his Madrid roots, Rodri has never worn the white shirt. In fact, given his Atletico background, there’s even a question as to whether he’d feel comfortable doing so — although football has seen plenty of such switches in the past.
City’s Anchor in an Era of Dominance
Rodri’s importance to Manchester City cannot be overstated. He has been the anchor behind one of the most dominant eras in Premier League history, helping City secure four straight league titles between 2020 and 2024 — an unprecedented run.
He scored the winning goal in the 2023 Champions League final and has often been described as City’s “metronome” — setting the rhythm of every match, always two steps ahead of everyone else on the pitch.
His absence this season due to injury has coincided with some of City’s most inconsistent form in recent years. It’s no coincidence.
Rodri’s contract runs until 2027, and although talks had quietly begun over a potential extension before his injury, nothing has yet been finalized. Still, City are in no rush — and neither is the player.
Real Madrid’s Midfield Puzzle
From a Madrid perspective, the pursuit of Rodri makes perfect sense.
Toni Kroos’ departure last summer left a hole in their midfield that even the brilliance of Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga hasn’t fully patched. Luka Modrić, for all his experience, is nearing the twilight of his legendary career. And while Aurélien Tchouaméni and Federico Valverde offer promise, Madrid still seem to crave a player who can sit deep, control possession, and provide tactical stability.
In other words, someone like Rodri.
But even if Madrid view him as the missing piece, that doesn’t mean they’ll get him. The realities of the modern game — long-term contracts, astronomical wages, and player loyalty — often outweigh sentiment or tactical need.
Injury, Recovery, and What’s Next
Rodri’s current focus is squarely on recovery. The ACL injury he sustained was a cruel blow, particularly coming just months after he’d publicly criticized the intense physical demands placed on elite footballers. Ironically, that very same physical overload may have played a role in his injury.
There’s optimism from the City camp that Rodri could return in time for the revamped FIFA Club World Cup this summer. If so, he would play a key role in City’s attempt to add another historic trophy to their bulging cabinet.
But until he’s back on the pitch, speculation around his future will continue — even if the player himself has done little to feed the flames.
Madrid Will Have to Look Elsewhere — For Now
All signs point to this summer being a quiet one regarding Rodri’s future. Unless something dramatic changes — either on his side or from Manchester City — a move to the Bernabéu appears unlikely.
And with Real Madrid’s midfield rebuild continuing, the Spanish giants may have to cast their net elsewhere. Whether that’s toward more attainable targets like Martin Zubimendi, or even a bold move for someone like Joshua Kimmich, remains to be seen.
What is clear, though, is that Rodri — for now — is staying put. And as long as he’s wearing City blue, Guardiola’s side will continue to operate with one of the best midfield generals in world football.
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