Real Madrid has dramatically reversed course on signing Rodri, according to transfer insider Matteo Moretto, following the Spanish midfielder's starring role in Spain's 2026 World Cup triumph. The 30-year-old captained La Roja to a 1-0 final victory over Argentina on Sunday, cementing his status as one of football's elite playmakers and earning the tournament's best player award.
The shift in the Spanish club's position marks a significant development in what has become one of summer's most intriguing transfer sagas. Previously, Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez had publicly dismissed the prospect of acquiring Rodri, citing concerns about his age, marketability, and the substantial fee required to prise him away from Manchester City. Yet members of the Los Blancos board are now actively exploring the possibility of bringing him to the Santiago Bernabéu, with Rodri apparently open to the move rather than extending his current deal at the Etihad Stadium.
Contract Uncertainty Fuels Madrid's Interest
Rodri's future remains genuinely unclear following his World Cup heroics. The Manchester City midfielder has just one year remaining on his contract, and recent months have seen little progress toward a renewal agreement. This contractual vulnerability has not gone unnoticed at Real Madrid, where the prospect of acquiring a world-class midfielder without triggering an astronomical transfer fee carries obvious appeal.
The metronome of Manchester City's midfield has established himself as arguably the Premier League's finest central midfielder in recent seasons. His World Cup performance—anchoring Spain's midfield with typical composure and distribution—only reinforces his elite status. At 30, he remains in his physical prime, capable of delivering at the highest level for another half-decade or more.
Whether Pérez ultimately authorizes a move depends on multiple variables: financial constraints, available squad slots, and the manager's input. Yet the board's willingness to revisit a player they previously rejected suggests the World Cup triumph has genuinely altered their calculations. Real Madrid's next move in the transfer market could significantly reshape the La Liga champions' midfield architecture for seasons to come.
