Rodri delays contract decision until after World Cup as Real Madrid circle

Rodri has confirmed he will not address his Manchester City future until after the World Cup, leaving the club uncertain over the long-term fate of one of their most important players. The Spanish midfielder has one year remaining on his contract and has yet to sign any of the renewal offers put to him by City.

Asked directly about his situation ahead of Spain’s opening fixtures, the Ballon d’Or winner was brief: “I understand there might be some noise, but for me I’m obviously going to focus on the World Cup. I’m not going to dedicate my time to that, and then after the World Cup let’s see.”

The stance prolongs a period of anxiety at the Etihad. There has been internal confidence that Rodri will stay, and manager Pep Guardiola has expressed hope that a deal will be reached, but no agreement is in place. Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has made no secret of his admiration for the 29-year-old, and a prominent World Cup campaign would only strengthen Rodri’s bargaining position — or his appeal to other clubs.

Spain, who won Euro 2024 with Rodri named player of the tournament, face Uruguay, Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia in their World Cup group. The draw appears favourable, though a potential semi-final against France looms if both nations advance from their respective groups as expected. The deeper Spain progress, the longer City must wait for clarity.

City defender Josko Gvardiol was similarly non-committal when pressed on his own future, though he did indicate he is happy at the club and has everything he needs. Both players are among 19 City representatives at the tournament, a number that will leave incoming manager Enzo Maresca working with a significantly depleted squad during pre-season.