Manchester City have confirmed they have received no official offer from Real Madrid for Rodri, shutting down a week of escalating speculation triggered by the midfielder’s World Cup Golden Ball.
Spanish newspaper AS contacted the Manchester City board directly. The answer was unambiguous. No offer. No negotiations. No contact between the two clubs. According to Goal.com, citing the AS report, City officials described the atmosphere inside the club as one of complete calm — no panic, no urgency, no back-channel deal being quietly assembled.
The source of all the noise is obvious. Rodri captained Spain to the World Cup title on July 19 in New Jersey, beating Argentina 1-0 after extra time through Ferran Torres in the 106th minute. He won the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament. Any midfielder who wins that award in the final week of July is going to attract transfer stories in the first week of August. It turns out some stories are just stories.
Manchester City told AS they have received no official offer from Real Madrid for Rodri — and that the situation is “absolutely calm” at the Etihad.
The full picture from all three parties is more layered than the noise suggested. On Rodri’s side: Fabrizio Romano confirmed this week that the 30-year-old “dreams” of playing for Real Madrid one day. Romano’s word was “one day” — not this summer. On Real Madrid’s side: part of the board has warmed to the idea after the World Cup, but Florentino Pérez has not yet approved a move, and Romano characterised the situation as “cold.” On Manchester City’s side: a new contract proposal is already on the table, and Rodri has not responded.
That contract offer is not a minor detail. According to All Out Soccer, citing a report from Mirror Sport, new City manager Enzo Maresca made Rodri’s retention a condition of his own contract negotiations six months ago. The Italian sees Rodri as the player his team will be built around — specifically, he views the Spain captain as essential to integrating new club-record signing Elliot Anderson, who arrived this summer for £116 million.
Fabrizio Romano described the Rodri to Real Madrid situation as “cold”, with Florentino Pérez currently unconvinced — even as a section of Madrid’s board pushes for a deal.
There is also a medical element the transfer chatter largely ignored. According to AS, Rodri is currently preparing for a minor back operation to treat a problem he had been managing. City expect him fit and available for the start of the new season in late August. The operation is precautionary, not a crisis — but it is a reminder that the Golden Ball was won by a player who spent most of last season sidelined by a serious knee injury and is not, medically, a simple proposition for any buying club.
Rodri joined City from Atletico Madrid in 2019 for £62.6 million and has since won 13 major trophies, including the Treble in 2023 and the Ballon d’Or in 2024. His contract runs until June 2027. One year left, a renewal offer sitting unanswered, and a club president in Madrid who publicly cannot decide whether he wants him.
The relationship between the two clubs is good — AS noted it as among the best in European football, with clean communication channels. If Madrid had made a move, City would have heard about it. They haven’t.
Rodri has a new Manchester City contract proposal on the table that he has not yet responded to, with his deal expiring in June 2027.
More than a month remains in the window. Romano’s “cold” is not “closed.” But right now, the world’s best midfielder is preparing for back surgery, his next contract is unsigned, and the club that wants him most cannot agree internally on whether to pursue him.
He will be back at the Etihad for pre-season sometime in August. At that point, Manchester City will learn something important about the next chapter of his career. For now, the club’s answer is straightforward: nothing has happened, and they are entirely comfortable with that.
FAQ
Has Real Madrid made an offer for Rodri? No. Manchester City confirmed to Spanish newspaper AS on July 24, 2026 that they have received no official offer from Real Madrid for Rodri. There have been no negotiations and no official contact between the clubs. City officials said the situation is completely calm and the speculation reflects Rodri’s Golden Ball-winning World Cup campaign, not any genuine transfer development.
Will Rodri leave Manchester City for Real Madrid? Rodri’s future is unresolved. Fabrizio Romano confirmed this week that Rodri personally “dreams” of playing for Real Madrid one day — but described the situation as “cold” due to Florentino Pérez’s reluctance. A new contract proposal from Manchester City is on the table, and Rodri has not yet responded. His deal expires in June 2027.
What did Manchester City say about the Real Madrid transfer rumours? Manchester City broke their silence via Spanish newspaper AS, confirming they have received no official offer from Real Madrid. Officials described the atmosphere at the Etihad as “completely calm” and said the speculation is a natural reaction to Rodri’s outstanding 2026 World Cup, which confirmed his full recovery from his ACL injury.
When does Rodri’s Manchester City contract expire? Rodri signed a five-year contract extension with Manchester City in 2022. That deal expires in June 2027. He has now entered the final 12 months of his contract. Manchester City have placed a new offer on the table but Rodri has not committed to signing it.
