Manchester City braces for Rodri bids amid Real Madrid and Barcelona interest

By Arjun Nair / 28.07.2026

By Arjun Nair — 28 July 2026 — 3 min read

Manchester City is preparing for potential bids for midfielder Rodri, with Real Madrid reportedly weighing up an offer. Despite this, City remains hopeful that the 30-year-old will agree to a new contract. Rodri’s current terms are set to expire next June, and discussions regarding a new deal are ongoing.

Real Madrid has reportedly changed its previous stance on Rodri, showing interest following his performances as captain of Spain‘s World Cup campaign, where he was awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. Rodri’s reliability during the summer has also reportedly eased concerns about his physical condition after two seasons affected by injuries. However, he is expected to undergo surgery for a back injury after returning from North America.

Interest from European Giants

In March, Rodri indicated a willingness to play for Real Madrid, stating that his previous time with Atlético would not prevent him from joining the club. He noted that other players have made similar moves, suggesting that one cannot decline an offer from one of the world’s top clubs.

Real Madrid’s interest in Rodri could also spark attention from other elite clubs. Barcelona is reportedly considering a move for the midfielder, especially after Frenkie de Jong‘s injury ruled him out for several months. Paris Saint-Germain is also known to admire Rodri, with reports indicating they have made initial contact regarding a potential transfer.

Real Madrid may need to secure funds to sign Rodri, particularly if they proceed with the expected signing of Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig for a fee reportedly exceeding €100m. This could potentially lead to the sale of Aurélien Tchouaméni. Tchouaméni, a 26-year-old Frenchman, is believed to have agreed to a new contract with Real Madrid, though this has not been officially announced. His current contract is set to end in the summer of 2028.

Manchester United continues to be interested in Tchouaméni, but earlier in the transfer window, there were uncertainties about whether Real Madrid’s asking price, reportedly around £70m, was within their budget. Tchouaméni’s teammate, Eduardo Camavinga, is also on United’s radar and is estimated to cost between €50m and €60m.

Other Transfer Developments

In other transfer news, Leeds United is reportedly close to finalising a £40m deal to acquire 23-year-old England goalkeeper James Trafford from Manchester City. Manchester United is in advanced discussions to loan 25-year-old Netherlands forward Joshua Zirkzee to Juventus for the season, with an option to buy at £30m.

Paris Saint-Germain is also reportedly interested in 23-year-old Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma, who has also been linked with Aston Villa and Juventus. Crystal Palace has reached an agreement on personal terms with 19-year-old French centre-back Raphael Le Guen from Brest.

Ibrahim Mbaye, an 18-year-old Senegal forward from Paris Saint-Germain, has been offered to both Liverpool and Manchester City, as his agents have clarified he will not be joining Aston Villa this summer. Real Madrid plans further discussions with Vinicius Jr‘s representatives to secure a new long-term contract for the 26-year-old Brazil winger, amidst interest from Arsenal.

Real Madrid has reportedly made a second offer, valued between £94m and £98m, for 19-year-old Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande, but additional talks are needed to meet RB Leipzig’s demands. Diomande was also a target for Liverpool. Sevilla is reportedly willing to sell 22-year-old Ruben Vargas for €20m (£17m), with Brighton, Newcastle, and Aston Villa among the Premier League clubs interested in the 27-year-old Switzerland winger. Sunderland has agreed on personal terms with 20-year-old Toulouse and France Under-21 left-back Dayann Methalie. Ipswich Town is reportedly interested in 29-year-old Serbia international Sasa Lukic from Fulham as one of their midfield targets this summer.

Source: bbc.com