Real Madrid’s hierarchy have been watching this summer’s World Cup with great enthusiasm, and their interest has now turned into a concrete pursuit of Spain’s tournament MVP, central midfielder Rodri. The English club’s metronomic pivot will become a free agent in twelve months, yet the Spanish giants are eager to secure his services immediately, and the player appears to be open to the idea.
In March, Rodri revealed on a Spanish radio programme that he harbours a strong desire to return to LaLiga, adding that "you can’t turn down the best clubs in the world". Manchester City are keen to keep him, offering an upgraded contract, but the pull of Real Madrid is difficult to ignore. Los Blancos have monitored Rodri for a long time, and his recent displays for the Spanish national team have quieted any lingering doubts about the long‑term impact of his previous knee injury.
Manager José Mourinho values seasoned campaigners in his midfield spine, and Rodri belongs to the rare breed of players who have won every major trophy available to them. City have already broken their transfer record to bring in Elliot Anderson.
While Anderson is not yet a direct replica of Rodri, his potential is considerable, and he could develop into a comparable deep‑lying playmaker. From a business perspective, extracting a sizable transfer fee for a player in his early thirties with only a single year left on a contract that the club does not intend to renew would be a prudent, if reluctant, move. Manchester City’s recent transfer policy has required a cold, calculated approach when dealing with players who are nearing the end of their cycles.
Knowing when to let go – as they have with Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and John Stones in recent windows – has been essential to their ability to rebuild. In Rodri’s case, securing a fee would be the silver lining of an otherwise painful departure.
Sources suggest Real Madrid will table an offer in the region of £43 million‑£51 million (approximately €50 million‑€60 million), while City still hope to convince the Spaniard to sign a long‑term extension. Pep Guardiola has repeatedly described Rodri as "by far the best midfielder in the world". Under his guidance, City’s playing style revolved around Rodri’s ability to receive the ball in tight spaces, dictate tempo and control the rhythm of matches.
He performed the same role for a triumphant Spain at the World Cup, proving that his influence extends beyond club football. When Rodri has been sidelined by injury, City have struggled to retain the Premier League title, underscoring how vital his presence is. Replacing him is therefore a major challenge for the club. Anderson offers a partial solution.
The 23‑year‑old England international is a box‑to‑box midfielder who is beginning to produce statistics that suggest he could evolve into a player with a similar profile to Rodri. Sharing a dressing‑room with seasoned professionals will accelerate his development, allowing him to adopt a more progressive approach that aligns with City’s possession‑based philosophy.
Rodri’s signature strength lies in his line‑breaking passes, a skill that is essential against the compact defenses typical of the Premier League. Anderson will need to broaden his passing range to emulate Rodri’s vision, but his off‑the‑ball work rate already compares favourably. Head coach Enzo Maresca will be pleased with his coachability and willingness to learn. If Rodri does depart, City will likely need to bring in additional reinforcements rather than rely on a single replacement.
The club has already begun to diversify its midfield options following Rodri’s ACL injury in 2024. Players such as Tijjani Reijnders, Nico González and Nico O’Reilly stepped in last season, and they remain viable options for Maresca.
The question remains whether these stop‑gap measures constitute a short‑term patch or a long‑term strategic shift. Anderson, like Rodri, covers a lot of ground, but during his time at Nottingham Forest he was supported by Ibrahim Sangaré. Maresca favours a system that employs two deep‑lying midfielders – a traditional No 6 paired with a more liberated No 8 – which could provide the balance City need.
Another potential target is Lille’s 18‑year‑old Ayyoub Bouaddi. The young French‑Moroccan impressed at the World Cup with a blend of technical skill, ball‑carrying ability and physical strength that many scouts deem suitable for the Premier League. City have reportedly taken a keen interest in him, seeing him as a long‑term project that could eventually fill the creative void left by Rodri.
Rodri distinguishes himself from most midfield anchors by anticipating opponents’ movements, allowing him to win possession through intelligent positioning rather than relying solely on tackles. This ability enables City to maintain control, momentum and possession, fitting neatly into Guardiola’s tempered, possession‑heavy style. Maresca, however, prefers a slightly more direct approach. He likes to stretch the game by using the pace of the wingers to enlarge the playing area, accelerating the build‑up phase.
In such a system, central midfielders may need to work harder off the ball, but they are not required to be pure pass masters. Anderson can still operate proactively from deep, while other technically gifted players around him will share the burden of possession and create space for him to exploit. It is also worth noting that Maresca has never managed a side with a player of Rodri’s caliber at its core.
His tactical blueprint will have to evolve to control matches in a different way, likely by implementing a higher‑pressing, more proactive system that seeks territorial dominance rather than relying on a single deep‑lying pivot. Losing Rodri would mean losing City’s best controller and a player with a wealth of experience – a double blow.
Rodri’s competitive edge is something opponents dread, and his departure would leave a noticeable gap. Equally significant is the loss of Bernardo Silva, who was Guardiola’s "favourite one" because of his unique tactical intelligence and adaptability to any system or game state.
Yet City have navigated similar transitions before: they thrived after the departures of Sergio Agüero, Yaya Touré and David Silva, finding new ways to win titles. Anderson now faces immense pressure to perform in Rodri’s wake, but his credentials suggest he can rise to the occasion. While he will miss the chance to refine his game alongside one of the world’s best, he will also gain the opportunity to step into a leading role and perhaps become one of the elite midfielders in Europe. In summary, Real Madrid’s pursuit of Rodri adds a new layer of intrigue to the upcoming transfer window.
Should the Spaniard decide to join Los Blancos, Manchester City will need to rely on a combination of emerging talent, strategic signings and tactical adjustments to mitigate the loss. The club’s recent history shows that it can adapt and continue to compete at the highest level, even after parting with marquee players. The coming months will reveal whether City can successfully replace their midfield linchpin or if they will have to reinvent their style of play altogether.