Manchester City has set its asking price for Real Madrid target Rodri according to Sky Sports and Mundo Deportivo, who cited anonymous sources.
The former’s reporter Patrick Berger says that City value the best player at the recent 2026 World Cup won by Spain at $86.5 million (€75 million).
Yet Madrid doesn’t want to pay more than €50 million leaving some €25 million to make up.
Los Blancos and president Florentino Perez can perhaps do this by introducing variables into their offer.
Once more when pursuing a high-profile player, who it often encourages to run down his contract and join for free as seen with Kylian Mbappe and Trent Alexander-Arnold, Madrid has the upper hand.
This is because Rodri’s contract expires on June 30, 2027, making this the last summer that the Premier League giants could hope to cash in on its captain.
Rodri joined City from Real Madrid’s crosstown rivals Atletico in 2019 when the Mancunians activated his $80.8 million (€70 million) release clause.
Since then, however, he has become a Champions League, Euros and World Cup winner while also beating Madrid winger Vinicius Jr. to the Ballon d’Or in late 2024.
Given his exploits for Spain in North America this summer, there’s an argument for him to once again be adorned with the accolade for being the sport’s best male player. He should also face strong competition from an international teammate in FC Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, and possibly Mbappe.
Where Rodri will be playing his football when the France Football award ceremony takes place in Paris on October 26 is another matter.
The quoted fee is still a bargain for Real Madrid to acquire Rodri
Even if Madrid has to match City’s asking price as a fixed fee or through a lump sum and variables, it’s still a bargain for a player at the peak of his powers.
Rodri’s ACL rupture history might be a concern, but he showed at the World Cup that’s in the rearview now with the rest of his career peak ahead of him.
As a model professional, Rodri should still have plenty of years to enjoy in the elite. Furthermore, he’s exactly the type of midfielder Real Madrid has lacked since the departures of serial Champions League rulers Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
He’d be able to offer control in the center of the park for new Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho, while allowing the likes of Jude Bellingham and Fede Valverde to roam free in a more attacking fashion.