Pep Guardiola 'understands completely' if Rodri wants Real Madrid move, Man City won't block deal

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Guardiola said he remained “positive” that the 29-year-old Spain international would renew his stay at City ahead of his contract expiring in 2027. He added the club’s stance of not standing in the way of any player who wished to move would apply to the former Villarreal and Atletico Madrid midfielder. It came after Rodri said he was “obviously” open to a move to Madrid and that such a move would be impossible to reject. “There is no player that will turn down the chance to play for Madrid, I understand completely. He was born in Spain,” Guardiola said on Friday. Guardiola said the stance of the club not standing in the way of any player who wished to move would also apply to Rodri. “If one player is not happy they have to leave. I think he is happy but 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 belongs only to himself.” The City coach added that there was no doubt over what the club wanted on the midfielder: “They informed me what they want from Rodri — it is to stay, stay, stay. I think [he will]. Always, I had the positive [feeling] with that but in the end I don’t know.” Last month’s interview with the Spanish press was not the first time Rodri had spoken of a hypothetical move to Madrid. In November 2024, he told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser: “Obviously, when Real Madrid calls you, the greatest club in history and the most decorated, it is an honour. You always have to pay attention.” Rodri has been a key part of Guardiola’s side since his 2019 move to England, winning four Premier League titles and the 2023 Champions League trophy. He has been a regular this season for City, making 28 appearances despite a two-month layoff from a hamstring injury, having missed the majority of the 2024-25 season with an anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus right knee injury. Analysis by Manchester City correspondent Sam Lee After three transfer windows of rebuilding the squad, City look to be in a very strong position for the next few years, and surely do not need to do much business this summer, other than replacing those who may leave. That’s where things may get tricky with Rodri. It looks almost certain that Bernardo Silva will depart when his contract expires this summer, and that is a pretty big job in itself. If Rodri were to go as well then suddenly City would need to replace the two most integral players in the squad in terms of understanding and deploying the Pep Guardiola model. Those two have been a staple in midfield since Rodri returned to the line-up in January and they are the ones charged with setting the tempo of games, which comes easier to them given their experience, willingness to take the ball under pressure and a rare appreciation for how many touches to take at any given moment. City would not just be replacing two midfielders but essentially the beating heart of the team. It can be done but it will not be easy by any stretch. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Colin Millar is a Senior Editor for The Athletic. Prior to joining The Athletic, Colin was European Football writer at Mirror Football. From Belfast, he is the author of The Frying Pan of Spain: Sevilla vs Real Betis, Spain’s Hottest Football Rivalry, and he can be found on Twitter/X: @Millar_Colin Follow Colin on Twitter @Millar_Colin