Man City get major Rodri contract hint as Guardiola sets out stall
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola knows what the club want to do about Rodri’s future and thinks he knows what the player wants as well
Manchester City midfielder Rodri (Image: Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
Pep Guardiola believes that Rodri will snub serious interest from Real Madrid to commit his future to Manchester City. The midfielder is coveted by the Spanish giants and is yet to agree a contract extension at the Etihad as he approaches the final 12 months of his contract.
Rodri talked up Real as a club in an extensive interview given over the last fortnight, admitting that it was hard to resist the pull of La Liga. But he also referred to the Premier League as his ‘weakness’ when discussing his future and knows the support that he has had at City not just to help him to become the best midfielder in world football but also to build him back up after his ACL injury in September 2024.
“I know what the club wants. They informed me what they want from Rodri – it is to stay, stay, stay,” said Guardiola. Asked if Rodri wanted that, the City boss replied: “I think so. Always I had the positive [feeling] with that but at the end I don’t know.”
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Keeping Rodri would be a major boost for the club as they look to show that they can continue their success – especially with doubts persisting over whether Guardiola will see out his contract. The January signings of Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo were seen as positive steps for recruitment in the post-Guardiola era and getting even more from Rodri would be further evidence.
City know that they have to be prepared for all outcomes though, and if Rodri decides that he does want to leave he will not be given any special treatment. If he can provide an acceptable offer from another club, he will be allowed to go.
“The organisation of the club is above all of us – if one player is not happy they have to leave,” said Guardiola. “Continue the same always if they are happy – and I think he is happy – 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 don’t belong to the club – only himself.”
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