Man City’s Rodri to decide future after World Cup as interest in Real Madrid grows

Spain midfielder Rodri has confirmed he will postpone any decision on his Manchester City future until after the World Cup and insists he is fully focused on leading Spain’s campaign in North America. The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner is entering the final year of his contract and continues to be linked with a possible move to Real Madrid.

Rodri emphasized that outside noise surrounding his contract situation is inevitable but will not affect his focus. He is widely expected to be one of Spain’s key figures as they head into Group H where they face Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.

“Well, I try not to make too much of it, but it’s part of my job, especially when players are nearing the end of their contracts for a while – it’s natural that names come up,” the 29-year-old said on Monday.

With Madrid’s presidential election looming, speculation has intensified after candidate Enrique Riquelme reportedly identified the midfielder as a potential target in his selection. campaign against incumbent Florentino Preza.

“But anyway I’m very calm, I know exactly where I stand and yes, probably if it wasn’t for the World Cup I might be in a different situation now, but with the World Cup on the horizon it’s my responsibility to stay focused. We’re here to talk about the World Cup and everything about my future. I’ll wait until the end of the World Cup.”

RODRI DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM RAFAEL NADAL

As well as his club future, Rodri has also highlighted the mindset he wants in the Spanish camp, drawing inspiration from tennis greats. Rafael Nadal after watching a documentary about the 22-time Grand Slam champion. He urged his teammates to adopt a more disciplined, collective approach based on effort and humility.

“I told them we have to try to play without the ball as a small team. With a mindset where you don’t think you’re the best,” he added.

“I was just watching a documentary about Nadal and he kept talking about it – always one more ball, one more effort. And that’s what great champions do and above all they will use all the talent that this team has, which is very big.”

Spain will be hoping that Rodri’s leadership and mentality can anchor their midfield as they balance the pressure of expectation with the demands of a demanding World Cup campaign.

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Published on:

02 Jun 2026 13:47 IST