Rodri close to Real Madrid: Manchester City to target World Cup star – Summer of change at the Etihad

Last Updated on 25 July 2026

Manchester City won the FA Cup and Carabao Cup last season. They also finished without their best player for most of it and this summer, the prospect of losing him permanently is becoming increasingly real.

While Real Madrid publicly denied approaching Manchester City for Rodri this week, reliable reports confirm that personal terms between Rodri and Los Blancos have been agreed. The midfielder is now waiting for the Spanish giants to strike a deal with the Citizens.

For City, this is their one last chance of receiving a meaningful fee as Rodri’s contract runs out.

Rodri and Real Madrid: The denial nobody believes

Real Madrid contacted Manchester City directly to deny reports of an agreed deal. Senior figures at Valdebebas were furious at the claims and citing a mismatch between Rodri’s style and Jose Mourinho’s tactical setup.

Other reports reveal that Madrid representatives met Rodri’s agents privately in Pozuelo. They were said to have laid out a project running to 2030. The idea was to finalise personal terms before opening club-to-club negotiations.

The public denial is standard Real Madrid transfer protocol. Deny early, confirm late. City remain in dialogue with Rodri over an extension but an agreement does not appear close.

More importantly, he is also set to miss the start of the 2026-27 campaign after back surgery. So far, no return date has been confirmed. Real Madrid are said to consider around €60 million a reasonable transfer value given his contract situation.

Ayyoub Bouaddi: City’s plan B and arguably their plan B

City have reportedly agreed personal terms with 18-year-old Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille. The French club value Bouaddi at €100 million, a figure that has escalated sharply since a fantastic World Cup campaign with Morocco.

Bouaddi’s arrival would not simply replace Rodri. Combined with Elliot Anderson’s £116 million arrival from Nottingham Forest, City are clearly preparing for a post-Rodri future, even if they have not yet accepted that future is inevitable.

The summer is moving fast. Rodri’s personal terms are done. Bouaddi’s are done. The only question left is whether City can convince either man to stay, or whether the Etihad’s midfield is about to look very different by September.