Real Madrid linked with Manchester City’s Rodri amid contract uncertainty

By Aditya Rao — 23 July 2026 — 3 min read

Rodri’s Contract Situation and Injury Update

Manchester City midfielder Rodri is set to undergo surgery for a back injury, with his return timeline currently unknown. The 30-year-old, who served as Spain captain and was awarded the Golden Ball at this summer’s World Cup, led his national team to their first tournament success since 2010. He started all eight matches in the tournament.

Rodri’s future at Manchester City is uncertain as he has one year remaining on his contract. Reports indicated that discussions regarding an extension were anticipated after the World Cup, but he has not yet expressed a desire to extend his terms. The midfielder has been frequently associated with a potential move to Real Madrid and has previously stated an interest in returning to his home country at some point in his career. However, one report suggests that Real Madrid currently has no plans to sign him.

The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner has faced challenges in making a similar impact for City since sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture in September 2024. This injury sidelined him for nearly the entire 2024-25 season. Fitness issues persisted into the last season, with hamstring and groin problems limiting him to 33 appearances across all competitions. He started 17 of City’s 38 Premier League matches last season.

Rodri was a crucial component of Pep Guardiola’s treble-winning squad in 2022-23. During that season, he scored in the 1-0 Champions League final victory against Inter and made 56 appearances as City also secured the Premier League title and the FA Cup.

Real Madrid’s Interest and Squad Changes

Real Madrid legend Luís Figo recently commented on the ongoing speculation linking Rodri with a move to the Spanish giants. Speaking at a Betfair event, Figo acknowledged the reports but suggested that such a transfer would be challenging due to Rodri’s existing contract with Manchester City. He noted that Real Madrid is always interested in signing top players.

Figo also commended Rodri’s performances during the World Cup, emphasizing the midfielder’s overall influence rather than focusing solely on traditional attacking statistics like goals or assists. He highlighted Spain’s World Cup victory as a result of their consistency throughout the competition, having conceded only one goal.

The impact of Rodri’s potential absence from Manchester City has been somewhat mitigated by the summer acquisition of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest in a deal valued at £116 million. However, other squad changes are also underway. Reports on July 21 indicated that Mateo Kovacic and Nico Gonzalez are considered likely to depart, while Bernardo Silva has already left the Etihad Stadium following the expiration of his contract.

Figo also discussed the Ballon d’Or race, suggesting that Kylian Mbappé’s World Cup campaign has strengthened his candidacy. He stressed the importance of considering performances across the entire season, including domestic competitions and the Champions League, in addition to the World Cup. Other players Figo believes deserve consideration include Paris Saint-Germain duo Vitinha and Désiré Doué, who had strong club seasons.

Looking ahead, Figo addressed the expectations for his former club, Real Madrid, as they prepare for the new campaign under José Mourinho. After two seasons without securing any titles, Figo believes the primary objective for Real Madrid is to return to winning ways.

Manchester City’s 2026-27 season is scheduled to commence at home against Bournemouth on August 23.

Source: nytimes.com