David Ornstein reported on 24 July that Real Madrid are "operating on the basis" that Rodri joins this summer, after a meeting with the player's representatives in the week to 24 July 1. Rodri, the Spain midfielder who took the Golden Ball at this tournament , is under contract at Manchester City until the summer of 2027.
No formal talks between the clubs have taken place, and Ornstein reports no fee and no personal terms 2. Manchester City do not want to sell and have been working to extend that contract. City's manager, Enzo Maresca, said Rodri will rejoin the squad once he has recovered from back surgery 3. Both clubs told the Spanish daily AS on 24 July that there had been no offer, no negotiation and no official contact 4.
This is the third turn of one story, after the reported split on Real Madrid's board and those on-record denials. What has changed since the Golden Ball is the reported existence of a meeting, not the existence of a negotiation. A club that briefs it is working on an assumption commits nothing and binds nobody, while the position on the other side, a contract with a year to run and a manager building a midfield around the player, is the part that carries a price.
