Real Madrid Close in on Rodri as Manchester City Softens Stance
The long courtship between Real Madrid and Rodri is edging towards its decisive moment. In Spain, the mood is clear: this is now a matter of when, not if.
Spanish outlet AS reports that both Real president Florentino Pérez and coach José Mourinho have given their approval to the signing of the 30-year-old Manchester City midfielder. The green light is there from the top. All that seems to be missing is the final signature.
AS even speaks of a “solution within the next 24 hours”. Officials from both clubs are expected to sit down on Thursday, with the clear intention of closing the deal at last. After weeks of speculation, the negotiation is finally moving at full speed.
A fee far from the original €100m talk
The pressure has not only shifted the timeline, but also the numbers. Early reports painted this as a nine-figure saga, with various outlets suggesting City wanted around €100 million for their midfield cornerstone.
That figure now looks distant.
According to AS, Real Madrid are preparing to pay significantly less: a fee in the region of €40 million to €50 million is being mentioned as the likely cost to prise Rodri away from Manchester. For a player who has been central to City’s era of dominance, that would represent a major coup for the Spanish giants.
The change in tone from England has not gone unnoticed. Marca reported on Tuesday that City, who had initially appeared unwilling to lose the newly crowned world champion, have softened. The paper notes that “the English club, who hold the player in the highest regard, will accept his departure should that be his decision”.
City’s contract gamble reaches its tipping point
Behind the scenes, City have been fighting a losing battle. For weeks and months, the club have tried to extend Rodri’s contract ahead of schedule. His current deal runs until 2027, but attempts to tie him down even longer have failed.
That leaves City in a delicate position. If they want to avoid the risk of losing him on a free transfer further down the line, this window becomes their best – and perhaps last – realistic chance to secure a substantial fee.
The balance of power has shifted towards the player. Rodri has not hidden his feelings. He has repeatedly made it clear that a move to Real Madrid appeals to him. Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has written that the midfielder would “love” the move and “dream” of wearing the white shirt.
When a player of his stature reaches that level of conviction, clubs tend to read the writing on the wall.
A return to Madrid, but not to Atlético
For Rodri, the move would not just be a step to another superclub. It would be a return home – and a controversial one at that.
The midfielder came through Atlético Madrid’s youth ranks and represented Los Colchoneros in the 2018/19 season before leaving for Manchester. Now, the prospect of him lining up for their city rivals carries its own edge.
In March, Rodri underlined just how powerful Real Madrid’s pull can be. In an interview, he admitted that you “cannot just easily turn Real down” if the club comes calling. Those words now hang over the deal like a quiet confirmation of what is to come.
The heir to Kroos and Modrić?
The links between Rodri and Real Madrid are not new. They intensified after his outstanding 2023/24 campaign and his Ballon d’Or triumph, when rumours grew that Los Blancos had identified him as the natural successor to the legendary midfield duo of Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić.
The irony was hard to miss. Talk of Rodri in white swirled at a time when Real Madrid had boycotted the Ballon d’Or gala itself, yet still appeared to have quietly ring-fenced the winner as their next great organiser.
For Real, this is about more than a marquee signing. It is about securing the heartbeat of their midfield for the next era. For City, it is the potential end of a golden chapter, decided not by tactics or trophies, but by a player’s long-held dream.
If the reports in Spain prove accurate and the clubs shake hands in the coming hours, European football’s balance in the middle of the pitch will tilt again – this time towards the Bernabéu.
