The 29-year-old defensive midfielder has been under contract at the Etihad Stadium until 2027 but has resisted all attempts to extend it. Manchester City sporting director Hugo Viana is understood to be making an aggressive push to keep him, but the emotional anchor that made such efforts viable — Guardiola's presence — is now gone.
Multiple Spanish outlets, led by Marca and confirmed by Cadena SER, report that Rodri's relationship with the idea of playing for Real Madrid has shifted from theoretical to active interest.
Guardiola was central to Rodri's City story in every sense. The Catalan coach signed him from Atletico Madrid for €70m in 2019, built the team's entire tactical structure around his ability to read and control the game, and transformed him into the world's best midfielder over six seasons. Their connection was personal as well as professional — and share an unusually similar public manner, defined by discretion, tactical obsession and leadership without ego.
Incoming Real Madrid manager José Mourinho has already identified Rodri as his top midfield target. The Cadena SER journalist Anton Meana reported that Mourinho's approval of the signing is a condition of Real Madrid proceeding formally, and that approval has now been given. Mourinho wants a player capable of immediately re-establishing order in a midfield that lost its identity with the gradual exits of Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Casemiro.
At over 1.90m, Rodri combines physical dominance with technical intelligence, anticipation and an exceptional passing range. His absence through injury for the majority of last season was directly correlated with City's title collapse, the most compelling statistical argument any club could make when assessing what he is worth.
Madrid are prepared to pay a fee well above €80m if necessary. City, who cannot risk losing Guardiola and their best midfielder in the same summer, will resist. The World Cup in June may prove decisive — a strong tournament with Spain could either inflate his price further or accelerate a decision from Rodri to push for his move.