Real Madrid is reportedly open to signing Manchester City’s Rodri after president Florentino Pérez reversed his earlier stance. The deal, estimated at around €50 million, hasn’t reached the negotiation table with Manchester City yet. But Rodri has reportedly agreed in principle to join.
What changed and why it matters financially
Pérez was reportedly uninterested in pursuing Rodri as recently as early 2026. The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner was apparently not on the shopping list despite being widely considered the best defensive midfielder on the planet.
Then Spain won the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme had publicly supported a Rodri signing ahead of Real Madrid’s June 2026 elections. Political pressure within the club, combined with post-World Cup momentum, appears to have shifted the calculus for Pérez.
Rodri’s contract with Manchester City runs until 2027, which gives City considerable leverage in any negotiation. The €50 million estimated price tag could easily climb once formal talks begin.
