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Real Madrid have devised a new strategy to lure Rodri away from Manchester City, with the Spanish giants looking to capitalise on the midfielder's stalled contract talks. Los Blancos see the Ballon d'Or winner as the ultimate target to complete their midfield evolution at the Santiago Bernabeu, and shocking reports from Spain suggest a major transfer offensive could be on the cards.
Madrid's interest in Rodri is an open secret in European football, but according to a report from Marca, the European champions have significantly changed their plan to secure his signature. Having previously adopted a "wait and see" approach regarding the midfielder's recovery from the serious knee injury that sidelined him for most of last season, the club's hierarchy have now seen enough.
The report suggests that Rodri's flawless return to elite performance levels in the 2025-26 season has convinced Florentino Perez to accelerate his plans. The "new plan" involves moving away from a passive monitoring of his contract situation and instead launching a proactive, attractive offensive designed to unsettle the player before the summer transfer window opens. Madrid are said to be ready to make him the cornerstone of their project, seeing him not just as a defensive anchor, but as the spiritual and tactical successor to Toni Kroos in terms of dictating the tempo.
Where Madrid were previously hesitant, fearing the long-term effects of his anterior cruciate ligament surgery, the "change" alluded to in Spain comes from the player's strong physical record since his return. The hesitation has vanished, replaced by a determination to bring the Madrid-born star home.
What fuels Madrid's optimism is the growing uncertainty surrounding Rodri's future at the Etihad Stadium. His current contract runs until 2027, meaning he is in the final 18 months of his deal.
Despite Manchester City putting a lucrative contract extension on the table that would reportedly make him one of the highest-paid players in Premier League history, the deal has yet to be signed. Marca reports that Madrid are well aware of this hesitation. Their strategy relies on convincing Rodri to delay any renewal until the summer, at which point City's negotiating leverage would be significantly reduced.
If Rodri enters the final year of his deal without renewing, City will face the dire scenario of losing a £100m asset for free the following year, potentially forcing them to negotiate a sale in 2026. This is the exact leverage point that Real Madrid are planning to exploit.
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