Rodri, the Manchester City midfielder and Spain captain, harbours a long-standing ambition to play for Real Madrid but would not automatically turn down an offer from Barcelona, according to reports in Catalonia.
The 28-year-old, whose contract with the Premier League champions runs until the summer of 2027, has become one of the central figures of the current transfer window, despite City’s firm stance that he is not for sale.
Real Madrid are described as the most interested club in signing the former Villarreal and Atletico Madrid player, who was named the best player at the 2026 World Cup and is widely regarded as one of the leading midfielders in world football.
However, the European champions are not the only major side monitoring his situation.
Barcelona and PSG in the frame
Reports in the French and Spanish media suggest Paris Saint-Germain have emerged as serious admirers of Rodri as they plan for the next phase of their squad building.
At the same time, Barcelona are exploring whether a move for the Manchester City midfielder could be feasible, according to Catalan radio station Catalunya Radio.
The Catalan club are said to be seeking midfield reinforcements regardless of the injury status of Netherlands international Frenkie de Jong, and have identified Rodri as an ideal profile to strengthen the centre of the pitch.
Local media reports indicate that Barcelona have made initial enquiries about the player’s situation and potential availability, sounding out the possibility of a future transfer.
Real Madrid dream, but Barca not ruled out
In a subsequent broadcast, cited by French outlet Foot Mercato, Catalunya Radio reported that Rodri “dreams” of representing Real Madrid at some stage in his career.
However, the same reports stress that this preference would not necessarily lead him to dismiss an approach from Barcelona, should a concrete opportunity arise.
According to those accounts, Rodri remains attracted by the prospect of joining Real Madrid but is open to considering other elite options, including a switch to the Camp Nou, if the sporting project and conditions are right.
City determined to keep key figure
Manchester City, for their part, are described as determined to keep hold of a player who has been central to their recent domestic and European success.
With three years still remaining on his current deal, City are in a strong contractual position and there is no indication from the club side in the reports that they are willing to negotiate his departure this summer.
Nonetheless, the combination of his contractual timeline, his status as captain of Spain and best player at the 2026 World Cup, and the interest from Real Madrid, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain has placed Rodri firmly at the heart of early transfer-window speculation.
The Catalan reports offer no suggestion that formal talks have begun between Manchester City and any of the interested clubs, but underline that Rodri’s personal dream of playing for Real Madrid, alongside his openness to a potential Barcelona offer, is likely to be a key narrative if his future comes under serious discussion in the coming years.
