It’s fair to say that after Rodri’s win at the Ballon D’or this week, relations between Manchester City and Real Madrid aren’t at their best.
Catalan newspaper Sport are well aware of that and have taken their opportunity to stir the pot today by claiming the midfielder could end up at the Bernabeu.
They say that while Rodri has been publicly insisting that he is happy at Manchester City, the reality is that he only has a contract until 2027.
His current focus is on returning from his cruciate ligament tear, but he had been in talks with Manchester City to extend his deal and increase his salary to a world star status. They are now seemingly on hold for the time being.
That could be a problem as Real Madrid, and particularly President Florentino Pérez, have a ‘fixation’ with the Manchester City midfielder.
He’s been ignoring the siren songs but has never entirely ruled out a move back to Spain and didn’t again this week.
“I love Spanish football, I represent Spain and also in the national team in the style that marked an era, and I hope one day I can return because it is also my home,” he said after winning the Ballon D’Or.
That is being taken as a sign by Sport that a transfer could happen in future, although really, they just want to stir the pot.