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Rodri Considers LaLiga Return Amid Final Contract Year
Rodri has signaled openness to a move to Real Madrid, stating he cannot reject the world’s elite clubs as he enters the final year of his Manchester City contract. The 29-year-old Madrid native expressed genuine interest in returning to Spain and LaLiga, where he began his career at Villarreal before moving to Atletico Madrid in 2018.
“Would I like to play in Spain again, in LaLiga, in Madrid? I’d like to return, yes, obviously,” Rodri told Onda Cero’s Radioestadio Noche programme ahead of Spain’s friendly against Serbia.
Contract Negotiations on the Horizon
With one year remaining on his City deal, the midfielder acknowledged that formal discussions between the club and his representatives will become necessary. “I have a year left on my contract; there will come a point when we’ll have to sit down and talk,” he stated.
Rodri has established himself as a cornerstone of Manchester City’s success since arriving in 2019. His achievements include one Champions League title and four Premier League crowns alongside numerous other major honours. He is currently working to regain full fitness after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament rupture in 2024.
Atletico Past No Barrier to Madrid Move
The midfielder dismissed concerns that his previous spell at Atletico Madrid would complicate a transfer to their city rivals. Both Thibaut Courtois and Alvaro Morata have successfully completed the switch between the two clubs, establishing a precedent.
“There are other players who have gone down that path – not straight away, but in time. You can’t turn down the best clubs in the world.”
Ballon d’Or Recognition and Vinicius Respect
Rodri won the 2024 Ballon d’Or ahead of Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr, with Madrid boycotting the ceremony. The midfielder moved to downplay any manufactured rivalry between them. “I think they wanted to pit Vinicius and me against each other, but not at all. I have great respect for him and for everything he did that year too,” Rodri explained, emphasizing that the award ultimately reflects decisions made by external voters rather than personal competition.
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