Rodri could now be more likely to leave Man City because of what PSG did earlier this month

Rodri has become one of the most important players in the Manchester City squad. Some fans even believe that alongside Erling Haaland, no other player comes close to matching Rodri’s importance at the club. He is the engine of Pep Guardiola’s midfield, the heartbeat of a team that has dominated English football for several years. His intelligence on the pitch, his ability to control the tempo of games, and his knack for scoring crucial goals have made him one of the best holding midfielders in the world. But now, despite his huge impact at the Etihad Stadium, there are real fears that Rodri’s time at Manchester City might be coming to an end, and the reason for this sudden shift in the narrative is what Paris Saint-Germain did earlier this month. The events in that competition may have changed the course of Rodri’s future.

Pep Guardiola has always spoken highly of Rodri. In fact, he once said that Rodri is to his current Manchester City team what Lionel Messi was to his Barcelona side. That is an enormous compliment, especially considering Guardiola managed Messi during his prime years at the Camp Nou. For Pep to put Rodri in the same category speaks volumes about how valuable the Spaniard is. Rodri is not just another player in Pep’s system; he is the system. His calmness under pressure, his ability to win tackles, and his perfect reading of the game allow City to maintain complete control in the midfield. But even a player this important isn’t immune to interest from Europe’s biggest clubs, and with just two years left on his contract, the vultures are beginning to circle.

Real Madrid are at the front of the line. They have been watching Rodri closely for some time, especially after the departure of Toni Kroos. Kroos was the brain of Real Madrid’s midfield for nearly a decade, and his exit has left a void that the club has not been able to fill. Luka Modric is also nearing the end of his career, and the club is now entering a new phase. With young stars like Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga already part of the setup, adding someone like Rodri would complete their next-generation midfield. But what makes this transfer rumor even more interesting is the presence of Xabi Alonso, who is now managing Real Madrid. Xabi was one of the best defensive midfielders of his generation, and he knows exactly how valuable a player like Rodri can be. Alonso reportedly sees Rodri as the perfect player to lead his new project at the Santiago Bernabeu, and he is said to be pushing hard for the club to sign him.

Things escalated earlier this month at the FIFA Club World Cup, where Real Madrid were handed a humiliating 4-0 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain. That defeat hurt the pride of the Spanish giants and reportedly triggered a new wave of urgency within the club to bring in elite reinforcements. PSG’s dominance in that game exposed Real Madrid’s weaknesses, particularly in the midfield. They were overrun, outplayed, and humiliated on the biggest stage. It’s believed that this result led to an emergency meeting between club officials and Xabi Alonso, where it was agreed that a player like Rodri is essential to avoid another embarrassing collapse in the future. PSG didn’t just beat Real Madrid on the pitch; they changed the way Madrid are now thinking about the transfer window. And that change could lead to Manchester City losing one of their most influential players.

Sources close to Real Madrid suggest that the club is now ready to pay up to £100 million to bring Rodri to Spain. For most clubs, such an offer would be hard to turn down. But for Manchester City, money is not the issue. The real problem is convincing Rodri to stay when one of the biggest clubs in the world comes calling. And this is where things get complicated. Rodri is Spanish. He grew up watching Real Madrid and Barcelona dominate European football. He knows the history of Los Blancos, the prestige, the titles, the legends. Playing for Real Madrid is seen as the pinnacle for many Spanish players. And while Rodri has achieved incredible success with Manchester City, the pull of going back home and wearing the iconic white shirt of Madrid might be too strong to resist.

This is not the first time Real Madrid have managed to attract top talent from the Premier League. In recent years, we’ve seen players like Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga reject other offers to join the Spanish giants. Even Kylian Mbappe, after years of speculation, finally agreed to join Real Madrid. It is becoming a trend that when Real Madrid truly want a player, they usually get him. Trent Alexander-Arnold was also reportedly on their radar, and while that transfer didn’t happen, the fact that players of that level even consider Madrid speaks volumes. When Real Madrid knock on the door, it becomes incredibly difficult for players to say no, no matter how happy they are at their current clubs.

Manchester City fans are understandably nervous. Rodri has already achieved almost everything there is to achieve at the club. He has won the Premier League multiple times, lifted the FA Cup, and more importantly, was the hero in the Champions League final when he scored the winning goal against Inter Milan. That goal etched his name into City’s history books forever. But players are always looking for new challenges. And if Rodri feels that he has reached the peak at Manchester City, a move to Real Madrid might be the next logical step for him. The Spanish media is already reporting that informal talks may have taken place between Rodri’s representatives and Madrid’s transfer team. While no official bid has been made yet, all signs point to something big happening soon.

Inside the City camp, Guardiola and his coaching staff are already preparing for all possibilities. Losing Rodri would be a massive blow, not just tactically but emotionally. He is a leader in the dressing room, someone the younger players look up to. Replacing a player like him is almost impossible. There are good midfielders out there, but not many can do what Rodri does. It’s not just about his passes or his defensive work; it’s about his presence, his understanding of the game, and his ability to make the right decision every single time. There’s a reason Pep Guardiola has built his entire midfield around him. Without Rodri, Manchester City would look very different.

The timing of this transfer interest is also worrying. With just two years left on his contract, Rodri holds a lot of power. If he decides not to renew his deal, Manchester City would be forced to either sell him next summer or risk losing him for free the following year. This is the exact situation City found themselves in with other players in the past. And while the club is financially stable, they would hate to lose such a valuable asset without proper compensation. Talks about a contract renewal have reportedly stalled in recent months, which only adds more fuel to the fire. City want Rodri to commit his long-term future to the club, but the player is yet to make a final decision.

It’s also worth noting that Rodri has previously hinted at returning to Spain at some point in his career. While he has never openly said he wants to leave City, he has spoken about his love for Spanish football and the importance of playing in front of his family. The opportunity to return home and play for a club like Real Madrid may be too tempting to pass up. And with Xabi Alonso personally leading the charge, the deal looks even more realistic. Alonso is a respected figure in Spain and someone who understands the role of a deep-lying midfielder better than most. His pitch to Rodri will be simple but powerful — come home, become the leader of a new era at Real Madrid, and win titles in your own country.

Paris Saint-Germain’s victory over Real Madrid may have seemed like just another big win, but in truth, it triggered a domino effect. It exposed Real Madrid’s flaws, ignited their urgency in the transfer market, and put Rodri at the top of their wishlist. If that match had gone differently, perhaps Madrid wouldn’t be pushing so hard for a new defensive midfielder. But the 4-0 defeat was a wake-up call. It made them realize they are not invincible and that to compete with the likes of PSG and Manchester City, they need to upgrade their squad. And Rodri, in their eyes, is the ideal player to do that.

Only time will tell how this story ends. Manchester City will try everything to keep their midfield general. They will likely offer him a bumper new contract, promise him a leadership role in the team, and remind him of the family he has built at the club. But if Rodri’s heart is set on returning to Spain, even Pep Guardiola might not be able to stop him. Real Madrid are waiting patiently, ready to pounce. And thanks to PSG’s brutal demolition earlier this month, that moment may come sooner than anyone expected.