Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola will 'absolutely' not stand in Rodri's way if Spain star wants Real Madrid move
Updated 04/04/2026 at 11:00 GMT+1
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Pep Guardiola said he hopes 2024 Ballon d'Or winner Rodri will stay at Manchester City beyond the length of his current contract, which expires next summer. However, the City boss added that he would not stand in Rodri's way should Real Madrid come calling. "There is not one player that will turn [down] the chance to play for Madrid," Guardiola said. Rodri admitted he would be open to the move.
Guardiola 'understands' if Rodri wants to play for Real Madrid
Video credit: SNTV
Pep Guardiola said he hopes Rodri will stay beyond the length of his current deal, but the Manchester City boss would sanction a move should the 29-year-old midfielder want to join Real Madrid.
Rodri, who has made 293 City appearances since joining in 2019, admitted during the international break that he would be open to joining Real as "you can't turn down the best clubs in the world".
Speaking ahead of Manchester City’s heavyweight Emirates FA Cup quarter-final encounter with Liverpool, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max, Guardiola said he would "absolutely" not stand in the Spain international’s way should he want to leave.
"There is not one player that will turn [down] the chance to play for [Real] Madrid," said Guardiola.
"Always my wish is that Rodri could stay as long as possible in this club because he is an incredible, top player but the life of everyone is everyone's."
Guardiola said that Rodri had proved "how attached, how close he is" to City, but added: "The organisation of the club is above all of us - if one player is not happy they have to leave and [we] continue the same always if they are happy - and I think he is happy.
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Guardiola labels Liverpool as 'top contenders' ahead of heavyweight FA Cup battle
Video credit: SNTV
"If he is not happy just knock on the door of the sporting director, accept an offer according to his incredible quality and after that he doesn't belong to the club - only himself.
"I know what the club wants. They informed me what they want from Rodri - it is to stay, stay, stay. I always had the positive [feeling] with that but at the end I don't know."
Rodri has won four Premier League titles, the UEFA Champions League, FA Cup and three League Cups at City.
However, he has been less prominent in recent seasons, having missed most of the 2024/25 campaign due to a knee injury and large chunks of this season because of a hamstring issue.
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Rodri, whose City deal expires next summer, told Spanish media about the allure of the Bernabeu over the international break.
The 29-year-old said: "I have one year left on my contract, there will be a point where we will have to sit down and talk."
When specifically pressed on reported interest from Real Madrid, and whether he would play for Los Blancos, having previously spent a season at their city rivals Atletico Madrid, Rodri said: "There have been many players who've gone down that path [playing for Atletico and Real].
"Not immediately, but over time. For me, you can't turn down the best clubs in the world."
Stream the Premier League, men’s and women’s FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more live on TNT Sports and HBO Max
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