Rodri is firmly set on joining Real Madrid, and he hopes Man City will part ways amicably without demanding an excessive transfer fee.

Rodri, the 30-year-old Spanish international and City's holding midfielder, played a pivotal role in Spain's World Cup triumph—their first in 16 years—winning the Golden Ball as the best player and reaching a new career high. With Guardiola leaving for Spain to be with his family, fellow countryman Rodri also wants to fulfill his dream of playing for Real Madrid, the club from his hometown in Madrid.

According to the latest report from Spanish media *El Debate*, Rodri will push for a move to Real Madrid and hopes for a clean break with Man City, asking the club not to set a high price to block his departure, as he has only one year left on his contract.

Now a World Cup champion and Ballon d'Or winner, Rodri has become the seventh player in football history to achieve a career grand slam, reaching new heights. His current market value on Transfermarkt is €55 million, and from January 2027 he can negotiate a free transfer with any club. Rodri wants to join Real Madrid this summer and leave a transfer fee for Man City, roughly €45 million plus €5 million in add-ons, which is considered a fair price.

Man City hopes to offer Rodri a lucrative contract extension, but the player's desire is to move to Real Madrid, so he will definitely not renew. Even if they force him to stay, he would leave on a free transfer next summer. Therefore, a summer move to Real Madrid could be a win-win-win: Rodri realizes his dream, City gets a transfer fee to rebuild the squad, and Real Madrid acquires the creative midfielder they desperately need.

In my opinion, after recovering from his major injury, La Liga is a better fit for the latter stages of Rodri's career than the Premier League. Playing in the Premier League again would put him at high risk of another injury—a fact he himself is well aware of. Moreover, without Guardiola, no one knows what Man City truly looks like. Returning to his hometown to join Real Madrid is the better choice.

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