Rodri Open to Real Madrid Transfer Despite Atletico History

Manchester City Midfielder’s Perspective

Rodri, the Manchester City midfielder, has expressed that his past with Atletico Madrid does not preclude a potential move to Real Madrid, stating, “One cannot decline the opportunity to join the best clubs in the world.”

The Spanish international, who has made 293 appearances for City since his transfer from Atletico in 2019, will see his contract expire next summer. Rodri, 29, mentioned that he needs to have discussions with City but has aspirations to return to Spain at some point in his career.

Considering the Future

Despite his Atletico roots, Rodri indicated that he wouldn’t dismiss the possibility of playing for Real Madrid. He noted, “Many players have made similar transitions in time.”

Rodri added, “It’s not something immediate, but for me, one cannot ignore the allure of the world’s top clubs.” Notable players who have played for both clubs include Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Spanish forward Alvaro Morata, who had stints at Chelsea during their time between the Madrid teams.

Achievements and Career

Since joining Manchester City, Rodri has celebrated 12 major titles, including four Premier League championships and one Champions League trophy. This season, he has participated in 18 Premier League matches, recovering from a serious knee ligament injury sustained in 2024.

When questioned about comments from Real Madrid’s president, Florentino Perez, regarding his talent, Rodri remarked, “I’m not sure about that – they don’t reach out to me directly; they would discuss with my agent.”

Rodri has been selected for the Spanish squad in upcoming friendly matches against Serbia and Egypt, aiming for a spot in this summer’s World Cup set to take place in the US, Mexico, and Canada. To date, he has represented Spain 59 times, with triumphs in both the 2024 European Championship and the previous year’s Nations League.