Man City’s Rodri does not dismiss possibility of Real Madrid transfer: ‘I would be interested in returning’ to LaLiga.
Manchester City midfielder Rodri has not dismissed the possibility of a future transfer to Real Madrid, despite his history with Atlético Madrid.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or recipient has returned to regular play for City following an extensive recovery from a cruciate ligament injury sustained in 2024.
Rodri — who progressed through Atlético’s youth ranks and made a significant impact on the first team in 2018-19 before moving to City — has slightly more than a year remaining on his contract with the Premier League side, which expires in June 2027.
Having been associated with a potential transfer to Real Madrid this summer, he was cautious not to eliminate the option during a radio interview on Thursday when questioned if his Atlético background made such a transition unfeasible.
“No, no,” Rodri stated to Onda Cero. “Many players have taken that route. Especially when they haven’t done it directly, but over time. For me, you cannot exclude the top clubs in the world.”
Rodri spent six years in Atlético’s youth setup before being released and subsequently joining Villarreal, where he made his first-team debut before returning to his former club in 2018.
A remarkable season at the Metropolitano led Pep Guardiola’s City to activate his release clause a year later.
In the Premier League, Rodri has emerged as one of the finest midfielders globally, earning the Ballon d’Or after aiding Spain in winning Euro 2024, a year after City achieved the Treble.
– Real Madrid have a significant, Rodri-sized gap in their midfield
“I have a year remaining on my contract [at City], and at some point, we will need to sit down and discuss,” Rodri mentioned to Onda Cero. “I would like to return [to LaLiga], of course.”
Madrid chose not to acquire a central midfielder last summer, opting instead to sign defenders Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, and Álvaro Carreras, along with winger Franco Mastantuono – but ESPN has indicated that the club is contemplating a midfield acquisition ahead of the 2026-27 season.
In recent weeks, 18-year-old Thiago Pitarch has been integrated into the squad by coach Álvaro Arbeloa, playing alongside Aurélien Tchouaméni, Federico Valverde, and Arda Güler.
