Manchester City midfielder, Rodri, has recently expressed his openness to joining Real Madrid. This comes as a surprise considering his past with Atletico Madrid. However, the 29-year-old Spanish player believes that being a former Atletico player does not necessarily rule him out of joining their city rivals.
Rodri has had an impressive career since he joined Manchester City from La Liga club Atletico in 2019. He has made 293 appearances for the English club and won 12 major trophies under Pep Guardiola's management. These include four Premier League titles and one Champions League trophy.
Despite suffering from an anterior cruciate ligament rupture in 2024, Rodri managed to bounce back and feature in 18 Premier League games this season alone. His resilience on the field earned him the prestigious Ballon d'Or award in 2024.
Possibility of joining Real Madrid
Rodri is set to be out of contract next summer and while he admits needing to discuss his future with Manchester City, he also expressed a desire to return to Spain someday. When asked about potentially joining Real Madrid, despite having played for their rivals Atletico, Rodri stated that "you can't turn down the best clubs in the world".
Rodri, Manchester City player, said:
"There have been many players who've gone down that path. Not immediately, but over time. For me, you can't turn down the best clubs in the world."
It wouldn't be unprecedented for players who have featured for both Real and Atletico - Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Spain forward Alvaro Morata are notable examples who played for Chelsea between their spells at both Madrid clubs.
Real president Florentino Perez reportedly admires Rodri as a footballer but when asked about it, Rodri replied: "I don't know - they don't talk to me directly. They'd talk to my agent."
Rodri's national team commitments
In addition to his club career, Rodri has also made significant contributions to the Spanish national team. He has been named in Luis de la Fuente's Spain squad for upcoming friendlies against Serbia and Egypt as he targets a spot for this summer's World Cup in the US, Mexico, and Canada.
Rodri has made 59 appearances for his country and won the European Championships in 2024 and the Nations League a year prior.
As sports fans eagerly await Rodri’s decision about his future club, it is clear that whether he stays with Manchester City or moves on to Real Madrid or another top-tier team, his impact on football will continue to be significant. His potential move could shake up both Premier League and La Liga dynamics while offering exciting prospects for sports betting fans.
