Rodri, the Manchester City midfielder, has expressed that his history with Atletico Madrid does not preclude him from potentially joining Real Madrid, stating, “you can’t turn down the best clubs in the world.”
The 29-year-old Spanish international has made 293 appearances for Manchester City since arriving from Atletico in 2019 and is set to become a free agent next summer.
He mentioned the need for a discussion with City about his future but added that he would like to return to Spain eventually.
Having played 47 matches for Atletico, Rodri remains open to the idea of joining their city rivals, Real Madrid. “There have been many players who have taken that route,” he told the Spanish press. “Not immediately, but over time. For me, you can’t turn down the best clubs in the world.”
Notable players who have donned both Real and Atletico jerseys include Belgium’s Thibaut Courtois and Spain’s Alvaro Morata, both of whom played for Chelsea during their stints at the Madrid clubs.
Rodri has won 12 major trophies with Pep Guardiola’s team, which includes four Premier League titles and one Champions League title. He has appeared in 18 Premier League matches this season following an anterior cruciate ligament injury he sustained in 2024.
When asked about Real Madrid president Florentino Perez’s reported interest in him, Rodri replied: “I don’t know – they don’t speak to me directly. They would communicate with my agent.”
Rodri has been selected by Luis de la Fuente for Spain’s upcoming friendlies against Serbia and Egypt as he aims for a spot in this summer’s World Cup, which will be held in the US, Mexico, and Canada.
With 59 international appearances under his belt, Rodri helped Spain win the European Championships in 2024 and the Nations League the previous year.