Rodri’s World Cup effect could change his future as Real Madrid fans call for move

Spain’s 2026 World Cup triumph could change the picture around Rodri’s future. The Manchester City midfielder, now 30, is back at the centre of attention after an outstanding tournament that ended with La Roja lifting the trophy and Rodri being named player of the tournament.

The 2025/26 season, however, had been anything but straightforward for the midfielder. After the serious knee injury that kept him out for a long spell, Rodri struggled to return to full fitness and also suffered muscle problems in his thigh and groin, forcing him to stop several times.

For Manchester City, he played in only one of the final six matches of the season before being called up by Luis de la Fuente.

The Spain manager, however, continued to trust him - and that decision paid off. Rodri became the technical leader of the world champions, reigniting speculation over his future.

With Pep Guardiola leaving City, the midfielder had already been mentioned among the players who could move on. In recent months, reports in Spain even claimed the English club had offered him to Real Madrid, without receiving encouragement from the Bernabéu.

During the World Cup, Rodri chose not to fuel the speculation.

“I have been quite far away from all of this. Obviously, some news reaches me too, but I don’t really know where it comes from. I understand it is part of the game. Our names circulate in the media and we accept that. I am not thinking about this and at the moment I am not making any decisions.”

Now, however, the situation appears to have changed. According to Mundo Deportivo, Real Madrid are under growing pressure from supporters who, after celebrating the return of Spain’s world champions to Madrid, are urging Florentino Pérez and the club’s hierarchy to bring Rodri back to Spain.