14 hours ago
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Manchester City will have to get used to this. Every time Rodri links up with the Spanish national team over the next three months, they can expect some kind of Real Madrid angle to appear.
In fact, it's likely to be four months of Madrid links with the 29-year-old Ballon d'Or winner, given that Spain have internationals in September, October and November, and then City face Real in the Bernabeu in December.
Right now, there won't be too much concern at the Etihad, but this is a familiar playbook for Real. Identify a player they like, sniff out the hint of a contract issue, and put the wheels in motion in the media.
The unusual element here is that it feels like a lot of this started soon after Real showed a great deal of disrespect to Rodri, throwing the toys out of the pram after the City holding midfielder beat Vinicius Jr to the Ballon d'Or. In a fit of pique, Real withdrew every representative from the ceremony.
But when the midfielder did a round of interviews in November after winning the individual award, he was asked about potential interest from Real. He gave a nuanced answer, which included the possibility of finishing his career in England, how City as a club were "spectacular" on and off the field, and generally how happy he was.
In Madrid, this line got the most traction: "Obviously when Madrid, the best and most successful club in history, calls you, it is an honour. You always have to pay attention."
Since then, there has been plenty of speculation in the Spanish capital. Rodri is into the final two years of his contract, which is an unusual position for one of the world's best players, but again, there are extenuating circumstances. He is only just returning to full fitness after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury a year ago and getting back to your best after such a significant issue is never easy.
You can understand why City are waiting to see Rodri return to his best levels before finalising a new deal. The player will be keen to show he can do just that, to ensure he gets the best contract possible. He will have just turned 31 when his current deal expires, so this contract is likely to be the last major payday of his career.
Until that deal is signed, speculation around Madrid will continue, just as it did on international duty this week, when Real right-back Dani Carvajal was asked about Rodri potentially joining the club.
"I've already let him know. I hope he can be with us at the club in the future because he's a great player," he said. "But for now, I understand that he's just coming off a long-term injury and that he wants to repay the trust they've placed in the club."
City have certainly placed their trust in Rodri, and he has done nothing to add to the volume about interest from the Spanish capital, but for the next few months, the noise is unlikely to abate.
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