Rodri makes stance on Manchester City future clear amid Real Madrid transfer links before Spain World Cup campaign - 'I know exactly where I stand'
Published 02/06/2026 at 09:56 GMT+1
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Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been discussing his future with the Premier League club before the FIFA World Cup amid reported interest from Real Madrid.
Guardiola 'understands' if Rodri wants to play for Real Madrid
Video credit: SNTV
The former Ballon d'Or winner has a year left on his contract at Manchester City and was asked about his plans beyond the next 12 months while preparing for Spain’s campaign at the tournament in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
Rodri, 29, has been linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu should presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme, standing against incumbent Florentino Perez, win this weekend’s election.
Speaking to reporters at Spain’s pre-World Cup training camp in Las Rozas, close to Madrid, Rodri said that he was ”calm” amid speculation over his future.
”I try not to give too much importance [to rumours],” said Rodri, who signed for City from Atletico Madrid in 2019. ”I know it’s part of the job, especially when a player is approaching the final stage of his contract. It’s normal for names to be mentioned.
”I’m very calm, I know exactly where I stand and I’ll tell you that, perhaps if there hadn’t been a World Cup, things might be different now.”
Rodri made it clear that he does not want his ”focus” to be affected by uncertainty over his future, so no decision will be made until after the tournament.
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Rodri lifts everyone around him – Gerrard
Video credit: TNT Sports
”With a World Cup ahead, my responsibility is to stay focused,” he said. ”Anything related to my future will wait until after the World Cup.”
Rodri, who missed most of the 2024/25 campaign after sustaining an ACL injury against Arsenal, has won four Premier League titles with City and he also scored the winning goal in the UEFA Champions League final three years ago.
He has won two FA Cups and three League Cups with the club.
What Guardiola said about Rodri's future
Departing City manager Pep Guardiola addressed Rodri's future late in the recently concluded season.
Guardiola, who announced his own exit last month, said that he would not stand in Rodri's way if he wanted to move to Real.
"There is not one player that will turn [down] the chance to play for [Real] Madrid," said Guardiola.
"Always, my wish is that Rodri could stay as long as possible in this club because he is an incredible, top player but the life of everyone is everyone's."
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Rodri flashes header across the box as City apply early pressure
Video credit: TNT Sports
Guardiola went on: "If he is not happy, just knock on the door of the sporting director, accept an offer according to his incredible quality, and after that he doesn't belong to the club - only himself.
"I know what the club wants. They informed me what they want from Rodri - it is to stay, stay, stay. I always had the positive [feeling] with that, but, at the end, I don't know [what will happen]."
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Spain open their Group H campaign with a game against Cape Verde on June 15. The tournament favourites and European champions are also set to face Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.
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