Real Madrid repeat Mbappe trick as Man City ‘game changer’ targeted

Robin Bairner

3 Jan 2026 09:39 GMT
3 min read

Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid, Pep Guardiola, Man City — © IMAGO

Real Madrid are ready to raid Manchester City for Ballon d’Or winner Rodri with a repeat of the move that allowed them to sign Kylian Mbappe.

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Rodri has 18 months left on his deal at the Etihad Stadium, and should no new contract have been signed by the summer, Marca reports that the Spanish giants are ready to exert pressure to sign him as a free agent in the summer of 2027 – or even at the end of the season in a low-cost deal.

Los Blancos famously used these tactics to snap up Mbappe from PSG, with the France international having since become their most important player

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Rodri

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Rodri

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Man City

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The Spanish source reports: “It is something Real Madrid will try to take advantage of to secure his services. It is familiar territory for the club from the Spanish capital, where they often step in to apply pressure and reduce costs.

“Should this situation arise without the expected contract renewal being signed, the English side would be forced to consider a possible transfer, otherwise they would run the risk of losing him for nothing just one year later.”

Guardiola hails Rodri’s importance for Man City

Rodri made his big return from injury on New Year’s Day in a scoreless draw against Sunderland, having missed the previous two months because of a hamstring issue that has plagued him since October.

Although he was unable to help lift Pep Guardiola’s side to a better result than a scoreless draw at the Stadium of Light, the manager hailed his impact.

“Rodri changed the game,” the Man City manager said. “He proved in 45 minutes that he’s the best in his position.

“Football is about the players - in the buildup we struggled and with Rodri we struggled less.

“He broke the lines, we moved better and one year and a half without him we missed him a lot.

“Hopefully he can stay fit because he makes us a better team.”

While Guardiola seems to have concerns over Rodri’s ability to remain fit – he has played only seven games since suffering an ACL injury in September 2024 - Real Madrid do not seem to share these worries and are ready to pounce if there’s a slip in Manchester.