Rodri leaning towards Real Madrid as Manchester City brace for formal bid – reports

Rodri has told Manchester City he wants to join Real Madrid this summer for sporting and family reasons, with the Premier League champions preparing for an official approach despite their determination to keep him, according to reports.

English journalist Ben Jacobs says the Spain international has already made his position clear to senior figures at Etihad Stadium, informing them that a move to the Bernabeu is his preferred option in the current transfer window.

City, who view the 28-year-old as a key part of Pep Guardiola’s side, are said to be expecting Real Madrid to test their resolve with a formal offer, even though the club’s hierarchy remain keen to retain the midfielder.

Jacobs adds that Rodri is not currently expected to sign a new contract with Manchester City, placing a potential switch to Real Madrid at the top of his agenda for this summer. The former Atletico Madrid player is under contract with City until June 2027.

Real Madrid interest intensifies after World Cup display

Real Madrid’s pursuit of Rodri has strengthened significantly following his standout performances at the 2026 World Cup, where he was widely regarded as one of Spain’s most influential players during their title-winning campaign.

The midfielder’s ability to dictate the tempo, break up opposition attacks and launch moves from deep is understood to have elevated him to the top of Real Madrid’s shortlist as they look to reinforce their midfield options.

Within the Bernabeu hierarchy, Rodri is viewed as the ideal profile to bolster Carlo Ancelotti’s central options, with club figures seeing him as a long-term solution at the base of midfield.

Contract situation and priorities

Despite being tied to Manchester City for another three years, Rodri’s stance has shifted this summer, with the player now prioritising a move to Real Madrid over extending his stay in England, according to Jacobs.

City, who signed Rodri from Atletico Madrid in 2019, are reported to be reluctant sellers given his importance to their tactical set-up and recent domestic and European success. However, they are understood to be aware that Real Madrid are preparing to formalise their interest.

No fee or specific financial details of a potential transfer have yet been reported, and there is no indication of how Manchester City might respond to an official offer.

For now, Real Madrid are waiting to see whether their pursuit of one of Europe’s leading midfielders can be turned into one of the headline deals of the summer window, while City face the prospect of trying to convince a cornerstone of their side to reconsider his preferred next step.