Real Madrid’s hierarchy have been watching this summer's World Cup with great enthusiasm, so much so that they have accelerated their pursuit of Spain's prized midfielder Rodri, moving the deadline up by a year. The Manchester City metronome, who would have been free to leave in twelve months, is now wanted immediately, and the sentiment appears to be mutual. In March, Rodri revealed on a Spanish radio programme his longing to return to LaLiga, saying, "You can't turn down the best clubs in the world." City have been candid about their desire to keep him and to improve his contract, yet the former Atlético Madrid player seems set on a homecoming to his birthplace. Los Blancos have tracked him for a long time, and his understated brilliance for Spain has pushed them to act sooner rather than later.
José Mourinho, looking for seasoned campaigners in his spine, sees Rodri as a rare talent who has already collected every major honour. Meanwhile, City have already broken their own transfer record for Elliot Anderson. Though Anderson is not a ready‑made replica of Rodri, his potential is evident. From a purely business standpoint, extracting a sizeable fee for a player in his early thirties with only a year left on a non‑renewed contract makes sense, even if the club feels a pang of reluctance.
City’s transfer policy has become increasingly pragmatic when dealing with players approaching the end of their cycles. Knowing when to let go – as they have recently done with Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and John Stones – has been essential to their rebuilding process. In Rodri’s case, securing a fee is the silver lining.
The financial aspect cannot be ignored. Despite his age, recent injury history and the fact he cannot sustain three games a week, Rodri remains the most complete central midfielder to have plied his trade in the Premier League over the past five seasons.
Pep Guardiola still hails him as "by far the best midfielder in the world." Under Guardiola, City’s in‑play rhythm revolved around Rodri’s ability to receive the ball in tight spaces, dictate tempo and control matches – qualities he also displayed for a triumphant Spain at the World Cup. No current player can condition a game the way he does, and it is no coincidence that City missed out on the Premier League title in the two seasons when injuries kept him sidelined. So how will they replace him? In short, they won’t find a direct substitute.
However, Elliot Anderson offers a surrogate of sorts. The 23‑year‑old England international is not yet the dictatorial presence of Rodri, but he is evolving toward that role.
As a box‑to‑box midfielder, his statistical output suggests he can at least approximate Rodri’s contributions. Anderson’s efficiency on the ball will be enhanced by sharing a dressing‑room with seasoned City players, allowing a more progressive style to develop. Rodri’s signature line‑breaking passes are vital against compact Premier League defences; Anderson will need to broaden his passing range to match that, but his off‑the‑ball work already rates favourably.
Coach Enzo Maresca should be pleased with his coachability. City will likely need to bring in additional talent to fill the void. They may target more than one player.
Fortunately, the club had already begun devising a formula to reduce reliance on Rodri after his ACL injury in 2024. Whether by design or necessity, a City side without Rodri has been taking shape for some time. Bernardo Silva’s work ethic was a key factor, and last season saw several stop‑gap options – Tijjani Reijnders, Nico González and Nico O’Reilly – step in. Those alternatives remain on Maresca’s menu.
Is this a short‑term patch or a long‑term blueprint? Anderson shares Rodri’s tendency to cover the ground of two midfielders, but at Nottingham Forest he was supported by Ibrahim Sangaré. Maresca prefers a double‑pivot, balancing a traditional No 6 with a more liberated No 8. Another potential recruit is Lille’s 18‑year‑old Ayyoub Bouaddi.
The young French‑Moroccan displayed a perfect blend of technical skill, ball‑carrying ability and off‑the‑ball strength in his six World Cup appearances for Morocco. He impressed as a midfielder with Premier League suitability, and City have taken note. Rodri differs from most anchormen in his ability to anticipate opponent movements, allowing him to win possession through pressure and interceptions rather than brute tackles. This anticipation enables City to retain control, momentum and possession, keeping opponents pinned in the measured style Guardiola favours.
Maresca, however, leans toward a more direct approach, using the speed of wingers to stretch the pitch and accelerate build‑up. His central midfielders may need to work harder and chase more, but the emphasis shifts away from being pure pass masters.
Anderson can still operate proactively from deep, but he will be surrounded by technically gifted teammates who can share the possession burden and create zones to exploit rather than always playing to the feet. Maresca has never managed a side built around a player like Rodri, so his tactical plan must evolve to dominate matches differently. It is likely City will adopt a higher‑pressing, more proactive system to assert territorial control earlier in games.
Losing Rodri means losing the team’s best controller and a player with shrewd experience – a double blow. Rodri’s competitive edge is something opponents dread, not enjoy. Bernardo Silva’s departure is equally significant; he was Guardiola’s "favourite one" because of his unique tactical intelligence and adaptability to any system or game state.
Nevertheless, City are accustomed to transitioning away from era‑defining stars. They thrived after Sergio Agüero’s exit, secured more trophies following Yaya Touré’s departure, and continued to succeed after David Silva left. Anderson now faces immense pressure to fill Rodri’s shoes, but he possesses the credentials to thrive.
While he misses the chance to refine his game alongside one of the world’s best, he gains the opportunity to become one of them himself.