JEREMY CROSS COLUMN Rodri has been heavily linked with a blockbuster move to Real Madrid this summer and the Manchester City board shouldn’t stand in his way
Manchester City supporters might want to click off now because sometimes the truth can hurt.
The harsh realities of modern football mean it is inevitable the best midfielder in the world appears destined to join the biggest club in the world. It’s a matter of when, not if. Life without Rodri would be a difficult one for the blue half of Manchester to accept.
The Spaniard has been the heartbeat of the club’s success since joining them from Atletico Madrid in 2019. City helped him become the complete player and he has helped them win countless trophies, including scoring the winning goal to land Pep Guardiola a Treble in 2023.
But the prestige of pulling on that iconic white shirt renders all of the above irrelevant. It’s why the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior chose Real ahead of all the rest. As did the likes of Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Kaka, David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Eden Hazard before them.
Rodri is now on Real’s wanted list. The latest ‘Galactico’ president Florentino Perez wants to indulge himself in and the harsh reality is that it’s almost impossible to see why Rodri wouldn’t want to swap Manchester for Madrid.
There is nothing left for him to do at the Etihad and everything for him to gain in the Spanish capital. He can return to his home country, add more layers to his legacy, and experience what a rare few have ever chosen to turn down.
If one footballer right now fits into the jigsaw returning manager Jose Mourinho is attempting to finish, it has to be Rodri.
He has just turned 30. Time is not on his side. And chances like this one might never come around again. He would be a huge loss to the English game because Rodri has graced it with such class and distinction.
But no-one at the Etihad would be in a position to begrudge him a move to the club mere mortals only get to dream about representing.
He owes City nothing, while City owe him everything. Something club bosses could do well to remember, when Real do put a bid on the table.
As for Rodri, when this happens, it will be the time to let his heart rule his head and join the club his remarkable talents deserve.