Rodri has given Man City a new transfer headache they weren't expecting

Manchester City midfielder Rodri enters the final year of his contract at the end of this season

"Rodri will play better and then everyone will play better." That was the message from Pep Guardiola after the Manchester City midfielder completed his first full 90 minutes since a hamstring injury in the defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford. The Ballon d'Or winner has been the key component for Guardiola's City.

When Kalvin Phillips arrived from Leeds in 2022, the idea was for him to relieve some of the pressure on Rodri. Trying to compete across all competitions is taxing and City felt Phillips, who was one of England's most promising midfielders at the time, could do that job.

Guardiola soon realised that Phillips could not replace what Rodri brings to City and it ultimately ruined his career in Manchester. When the Spaniard picked up an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury last season, the Blues suffered and eventually managed to squeeze into the Champions League after a difficult season.

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"Do you know how much we miss him?" Guardiola asked before the first match of 2026. "Playing without the best player in the world two seasons ago, our main player when we won the Treble, playing 70 games, for one year and a half without him?

"We want him back here right now and he is suffering and wants to come back but I want to protect him. Minimise the risks. This is what we want. He wants and I want and the medical team want him to return. Tell me one team without the best player for a year and half not here - they would all suffer.

"Rodri is another level of a player when he plays. If he came on for the last 20 minutes vs Fulham and just his presence without even touching the ball for the next 10 players [they would feel] safe and they play better even if he doesn’t touch the ball.

"Just for the fact he’s there. We haven’t had it for one year and a half. There are players who are irreplaceable - not just because of how good they play but how they create [time and space for] the other ones."

Rodri will never doubt how much City and Guardiola rate him but that does not mean he will stay until retirement. This week, the midfielder was quizzed about returning to La Liga and, in particular, signing for Real Madrid.

His response gave little in the way of comfort for City supporters. "I mean, there have been many players who have gone down that path, right?" He replied when asked if he could play for Real after representing Atletico Madrid.

"And especially not directly, but over time... You can't turn down the best clubs in the world." He added: "I’d like to return, yes, obviously."

Those six words should send alarm bells ringing for City. The Blues are already bracing themselves for losing Bernardo Silva in the summer.

City's captain is out of contract and has dropped more hints than a little about leaving the Etihad Stadium in the past few years. But if Rodri is also thinking about the next chapter, suddenly the Blues are needing to overhaul the core of their midfield.

Guardiola has never stood in the way of any player pursuing a new chapter. However, replacing a player of Rodri's ability will be costly.

Rodri has repaid his £62.6m transfer fee and then some but if he has decided his time in Manchester is up, City would prefer to bring in some money for him. From the player's side, he will also be anxious not to let a chance of returning to Madrid slip away.

He has suffered two serious injuries in the past two seasons and Real could look elsewhere if he were to pick up another long-term problem between now and his contract expiring in 2027. That will be playing on Rodri's mind heading into this summer.

City won't have expected to lose Rodri at the end of this season but now it will be at the forefront of their mind. The Blues could try to offer him a new deal with exceptional terms but if his heart is set on Madrid, there is little City can do to ease this transfer headache.