Manchester City have categorically told Real Madrid that their Ballon d'Or winning midfielder Rodri is not up for sale, media reports said.
Rumours were rife that Real Madrid would try to get the Spanish defensive midfielder from Manchester City when his current deal expires in 2027. Rodri had suffered a serious injury and is yet to reclaim his spot at the heart of Pep Guardiola's plans as a regular starter, and his fitness was the factor that Real Madrid were considering before finalising the bid they wanted to send to Manchester, reports had claimed.
However, the latest reports indicate that the Premier League powerhouse have kept Rodri in the 'untouchable' bracket despite his fitness woes. City are hopeful that their fluctuating form will stabilise once Rodri regains full fitness. The 29-year-old Spanish international joined Manchester City from Atlético Madrid in July 2019 for £62.8 million. Since his arrival, Rodri has made over 250 appearances for Manchester City, scoring 26 goals and providing 32 assists.
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No amount of money will make City reconsider, the reports said, as the Spanish CDM's availability is a priority for the club, which is looking to consolidate its domestic and European dominance. There is no other player who can replace Rodri in anchoring City's midfield.
Why Rodri?
In Rodri, Guardiola saw a technically gifted midfielder who was already close to the best in his position, but one who could be moulded further―into the perfect modern defensive midfielder. He became obsessed with this new project, similar to how he had made it his mission to pave the way for Messi. He is even said to have stepped in during training to correct Rodri’s position by mere inches. By 2021, Rodri was ready to take on the world and stamp his authority on it. Guardiola’s philosophy of monitoring the spaces, rather than opposition players, has been key to the now-injured Rodri’s development into the best defensive midfielder in world football.
FULL STORY | Messi and Rodri: How Pep Guardiola moulded two Ballon d'Or winners
When he won the 2024 Ballon d’Or on October 28, Rodri became the first defence-focused player to win the award since Fabio Cannavaro in 2006 (2018-winner Luka Modric is capable of operating in defensive midfield, but he primarily played a more advanced role in the 2017-18 season and the 2018 World Cup) and the first Spaniard to win since Luis Suárez in 1960.
