Real Madrid return for Rodri! Los Blancos readying eye-watering €150m transfer offer amid determination to prise Ballon d'Or winner away from Man City

Rodri, who was named the best player on the planet in 2024 after helping City to another domestic title and his country to European Championship glory, has been in England since 2019. The Madrid native bid farewell to his homeland at that point when severing ties with Atletico.

The 29-year-old has, after a relatively slow start, been a stunning transfer success story for City. They spent £62.6m ($85m) on him when triggering a release clause and are aware that he is now worth at least double that. The Cityzens are, however, not about to put a price tag around Rodri’s neck as they want him to remain on their books for the foreseeable future.

Rodri is only tied to a contract through to 2027, though, and that is keeping the likes of Real interested. They hope that a deal could be done next summer, as City cash in rather than risk losing the classy holding midfielder for nothing. According to Express Sport, a huge offer is being readied in the Spanish capital.

It is claimed that Los Blancos would be willing to pay €150m to make Rodri another ‘Galactico’ at Santiago Bernabeu. That figure highlights how much Real believe the Spain international would be a crucial addition to their ranks - with long-standing interest being held.

It has previously been claimed that Real would not pay more than €100m (£87m/$117m) for Rodri. They are now prepared to increase that offer in a bid to lure City to the negotiating table. Florentino Perez is said to believe that Rodri could reshape Madrid’s midfield for many years to come - as he fills the void created by Luka Modric and Toni Kroos’ recent departures.

City, though, consider Rodri to be the man that makes them tick. Pep Guardiola has previously told Sky Sports: "With him, we are a better team. No doubt. If holding midfielders started getting the recognition of Erling Haaland and Kevin, we would have a problem. The holding midfielder has to never, ever be in the highlights. He has to do the job he has to do. But without him, we could not do what we are doing.

"But the highlights have to belong to other people. The holding midfielder has to think for the rest of the team and do not expect the recognition. But internally? All team-mates and staff, they all know how important and decisive he is. Massively important for us.”

The latest reports regarding Rodri’s future claim that City president Khaldoon Al-Mubarak is determined to keep the Spaniard in his current surroundings. Unsurprisingly, a contract extension offer is said to be in the pipeline that will increase the midfielder’s salary and bring any unwelcome exit talk to a close.

If Rodri were to indicate that he is ready for a new challenge, with a return to his roots holding plenty of obvious appeal, then City would have no choice but to listen to what Real have to say. That is not, however, a discussion that they are planning to have any time soon.

For now, City are focused on nursing Rodri back to full health. They saw him pick up another untimely knock during a Premier League victory at Brentford. Rodri lasted just 20 minutes of that contest before being forced from the field with a muscle complaint.

No setback has been suffered in his ongoing recovery from the ACL injury that kept him out for several months last season, with Rodri stating that he could be ready for the resumption of Premier League action on October 18 - when City face Everton - having withdrawn from the latest Spain squad in order to avoid any unnecessary risks being taken on his fitness.