Real Madrid president Perez pulling out all the stops to snatch Rodri from Man City

Peter Staunton

Updated: 28 Aug 2024 16:32 BST
4 min read

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has instructed his recruitment staff to do everything possible to bring Rodri to the club, The Transfers Podcast understands.

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Rodri has three years left on his contract at Manchester City and his employers want to improve his terms to make him one of the best-paid players in line with his performances over the past five seasons.

However, it is expected that Real Madrid will make an attempt to land Rodri in next summer’s transfer window and City are now aware of the LaLiga side's interest in taking the player.

Rodri, 28, is also a top player for the Spain national team and is widely regarded as the best defensive midfielder in football.

He joined Manchester City and in 2019 with City paying a then-record transfer fee, his €70 million release clause from Atletico Madrid.

That has since been regarded as one of the most successful transfers in European football history.

The Madrid-born ball-winner has played at least 33 Premier League matches in every season since moving to the Etihad, winning four Premier League titles in five years and nine major trophies overall - including the Champions League in 2023.

Rodri was named as the Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament and the 2022/23 Champions League Player of the Season.

Rodri open to LaLiga return

Rodri is understood to be interested in a move back to his home country and there have also been approaches from Barcelona, which are far less realistic due to their financial situation.

Moving to Real Madrid and the opportunity to finish his career in Spain is a prospect that will be taken seriously.

The development also places Rodri in an excellent position to maximise the contract offer he receives, not just from Manchester City, but also from Madrid.

READ MORE: Latest Real Madrid transfer news

“Rodri is valued at €97.6m by our Estimated Transfer Value system,” FootballTransfers co-founder Paul Macdonald tells the Transfers Podcast.

“The fact that Rodri still values so highly when he's about to turn 29, and his value is still increasing as he gets to that age, is testament just to how good a player he is and how much City will likely demand for him if he were to move on.”