Truth revealed on Rodri’s Man City contract impasse ahead of Real Madrid presidential election

Rodri and Man City “not far away” from a contract renewal agreement

Midfielder is taking his time to consider City’s ‘weighty’ offer

Spaniard has insisted all decisions on his future will wait until after the FIFA World Cup

A new report from Spain has revealed how far Rodri and Manchester City remain in contract renewal talks amid interest from Real Madrid in the midfielder.

Rodri enters the final year of his current deal this summer and has insisted his future will not be addressed until after the FIFA World Cup, with the Spain international focused entirely on the tournament across the Atlantic.

Fabrizio Romano has previously reported that the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner was seeking a better offer than what City had tabled, citing a financial gap as the primary obstacle in talks.

Rodri addresses Real Madrid agreement claim by presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme

Rodri addresses Real Madrid agreement claim by presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme

As reported by Marca journalist Matteo Moretto, Manchester City and Rodri are not far from reaching a contract agreement, with the midfielder currently taking his time to consider a weighty offer that the Blues have placed on the table.

It is likely that City have made a serious and improved bid to keep the player they consider irreplaceable in midfield, addressing the financial gap in earlier negotiations.

Whether the offer fully meets Rodri’s expectations will become clearer in the weeks after the World Cup concludes as City look to announce Enzo Maresca as new manager following the recent departure of Pep Guardiola.

Real Madrid presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme had claimed an agreement between Rodri and the Santiago Bernabeu was already in place, a suggestion Rodri swiftly and publicly dismissed this week, insisting any decision on his future “will have to wait until after the World Cup”.

The news will be welcomed at the Etihad Stadium, where director of football Hugo Viana has made securing Rodri’s long-term future one of the most critical items on his summer agenda.

Allowing the 29-year-old to enter the final 12 months of his contract without a resolution would hand Real Madrid – and any other interested party – a window of opportunity that City have been determined to close.

Rodri addresses Real Madrid agreement claim by presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme

Rodri addresses Real Madrid agreement claim by presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme

Moretto’s report suggests City have done what was needed to make their position credible, putting a proposal on the table serious enough to bring both sides within reach of an agreement.

The decision now rests with Rodri, who has given every indication that he will take the time he needs to make the right call for himself and his family before committing his future one way or the other. For City, patience and a weighty offer appear to be working.