Real Madrid’s hopes of signing Rodri may have suffered a significant setback, as two European giants have entered the race at the last minute for the Manchester City star.
Following a spectacular summer with Spain at the FIFA World Cup, where he captained his national team to football’s biggest prize and won the tournament’s Golden Ball award, Rodri once again proved why he remains one of the finest footballers in the world.
After suffering a serious anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in 2024, many fans feared the Manchester City midfielder would never regain his best form.
However, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner has demonstrated that he is still at the peak of his career, reigniting Real Madrid’s interest following the appointment of José Mourinho as the club’s head coach.
Rodri has long been linked with a move to the Spanish giants, and with his current Manchester City contract set to expire next year, a transfer finally appears to be a realistic possibility.
According to French outlet RMC Sport, Real Madrid have already reached a personal agreement with Rodri and are now negotiating with Manchester City over the transfer fee.
However, the Madrid club’s dream move could become more complicated, as both Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona have launched late attempts to sign Spain’s captain.
The report states that PSG have already contacted Manchester City to inquire about the conditions of a potential transfer, although negotiations remain in the early stages.
Meanwhile, Barcelona are reported to have contacted Rodri’s representatives following Frenkie de Jong’s injury. The Dutch midfielder is expected to be sidelined for an extended period after suffering a medial collateral ligament (MCL) tear in his right knee during the World Cup.
Despite the growing interest from PSG and Barcelona, Real Madrid are still believed to be the favorites to secure Rodri’s signature if he leaves Manchester City this summer.
However, the possibility of Rodri joining either PSG or Barcelona is also unwelcome news for Manchester United supporters, as his move to Real Madrid could directly influence another major transfer involving the English club.
United have been searching for another top-class midfielder despite already signing Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa and Andrey Santos from Chelsea this summer in deals worth a combined £85 million.
One of the latest names linked with Manchester United is Aurélien Tchouaméni. The French midfielder could be allowed to leave the Santiago Bernabéu this summer, although Mourinho is reportedly keen to keep him in his squad.
Nevertheless, reports suggest that Real Madrid would only be willing to sanction the 26-year-old’s departure if they successfully complete the signing of Rodri as his replacement.
This means that if Rodri joins another club—or decides to remain at Manchester City, partly because of his ongoing back problems—Manchester United’s hopes of signing Tchouaméni would suffer a major blow.
