Rodri faces summer choice between Real Madrid or Barcelona as Man City future remains undecided
Manchester City midfielder Rodri, who was named player of the tournament after captaining Spain to World Cup glory in the summer, faces a decision this summer over whether to join Real Madrid or Barcelona should he leave the Etihad Stadium. The 29-year-old is in the final year of his contract at City and has not yet signed new terms.
Real Madrid have long been linked with Rodri, and two separate sources told BBC Sport that Barcelona have now entered the race for his signature; Barcelona sources told BBC Sport they distanced themselves from such talk when approached. Rodri missed much of the 2024-25 campaign after a serious knee injury and had parts of last season disrupted by a hamstring problem, but returned to form at the World Cup; he said earlier this season his future would be sorted after the tournament and is currently out following back surgery. City are on a pre-season tour in the Far East and face Arsenal in the Community Shield next Sunday, but Rodri has not yet linked up with his team-mates.
When he does return Rodri will have three principal options, according to the club’s situation: accept the deal on offer from City, play the remaining months of his contract and become a free agent next summer, or move back to Spain. City sources have told BBC Sport they are "counting on" the player for next season, while the club would require a significant fee to entertain a sale.
A transfer to Barcelona would see Rodri join the Spanish champions of the past two seasons and link up with national-team colleagues Ferran Torres, Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi and Pedri. Alternatively, a move to Real Madrid would reunite him with ex-City team-mate Bernardo Silva, who joined Real on a free this summer, and the club will be led by the returning Jose Mourinho.
Rodri previously played for Atletico Madrid and has said of Real that "you can't turn down the best clubs in the world", a comment that could influence how he is received if he moved to Barcelona's Nou Camp. Since signing for City in 2019 he has won four Premier League titles, the Champions League and two FA Cups, and has been described in the club’s reporting as integral to the side and among the world’s leading midfielders.
City’s squad plans this summer already reflect change: Bernardo Silva has departed and several midfielders — Mateo Kovacic, Nico Gonzalez and Tijjani Reijnders — have featured in pre-season and would be expected to take on greater roles should Rodri leave. Club-record signing Elliot Anderson is set to be a starter, and City remain in talks to sign 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille, though the article notes it would be a large ask for the Moroccan teenager to fill Rodri’s role.
Rodri’s immediate timeline remains tied to his recovery from back surgery and his return to Manchester City’s pre-season set-up; with the Community Shield against Arsenal scheduled for next Sunday, the player’s decision on his contract or a move to Spain will need to be resolved as the season build-up continues.
