Following the departure of Pep Guardiola, Bernardo Silva, and John Stones from Manchester City, speculation is rife about the future of Spanish midfielder Rodri. However, he has decided to postpone any discussions about his future until after the World Cup.
Rodri has had an illustrious career with Manchester City since joining ahead of the 2019-20 season. The 29-year-old midfielder has won four Premier League titles, three EFL Cups, two FA Cups, one Champions League trophy, one UEFA Super Cup and a FIFA Club World Cup during his tenure. His exceptional performance in both club and international football earned him the prestigious Ballon d'Or award in 2024.
The Spaniard's contribution to Man City's success is evident in their win rate - they have won 71.5% of games where Rodri featured compared to a lower win rate of 62.8% without him.
Speculations about Real Madrid move
Despite having a contract with Manchester City until June 2027, rumours are circulating that Rodri might be moving to Real Madrid. These speculations were fuelled by presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme expressing his desire to bring Rodri to Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. The exit of Pep Guardiola from Man City seems to have added momentum to these rumours; however, for now, Rodri remains focused on Spain's campaign at the World Cup.
Spain enters this year’s World Cup as favourites according to Opta supercomputer predictions with a winning probability pegged at 16%. This tournament holds special significance for Rodri who is eager for action after missing most of the previous season due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and other health issues in subsequent seasons. Rodri is entering the tournament in a "fresh" state, having recovered from his injuries. His performance at the World Cup could potentially influence his future career decisions and the interest of other clubs.
Rodri, Manchester City player, said:
"We're here to talk about the World Cup. "In terms of my future, I'll wait until the World Cup is over. It's normal, it's a part of football, names of players being linked to particular clubs. I'm focused, I'm captain of the national team. My responsibility is to accept it.
"I'm a leader in the group, my only job is to help Spain win this World Cup. I won't waste time on all that, and after the World Cup, we'll see."
The future of Rodri at Manchester City remains uncertain as he has decided to delay discussions until after the World Cup. While rumours about a potential move to Real Madrid continue to circulate, Rodri's focus remains on Spain's campaign at the World Cup. Regardless of where he ends up, there is no doubt that Rodri will continue to be an influential figure in football due to his remarkable skills and experience.
