Report: Real Madrid drop their pursuit of £52m Man City star — and more

Real Madrid Cool Interest in Rodri as Midfield Rebuild Continues

Real Madrid’s long standing admiration for Rodri Hernández appears to have reached a quiet conclusion. For years the Manchester City midfielder represented the type of cerebral presence many believed would eventually land at the Santiago Bernabéu. According to reporting from Sport, however, the Spanish giants now view the opportunity as one that has passed.

The reasoning is practical rather than sentimental. Rodri, one of the defining midfielders of Manchester City’s dominant era under Pep Guardiola, approaches a crossroads in his career. Age, injury concerns, and financial realities have shifted Madrid’s priorities as they reshape their midfield.

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Age and Injury Raise Questions

Rodri will turn 30 in June and is currently recovering from a serious knee injury. Though still widely respected across European football, these circumstances inevitably affect how potential suitors evaluate his future.

Real Madrid’s recruitment policy in recent seasons has leaned towards younger talent capable of anchoring the team for the next decade. Even with Rodri’s market value estimated around €75 million, his price tag would still be significant.

Sport reports that Manchester City would not consider offers below €60 million, a figure that immediately complicates any potential move.

From Madrid’s perspective, committing that level of investment to a player nearing 30 and returning from injury does not align with the club’s evolving strategy.

Missed Opportunities in Midfield Planning

The situation echoes decisions made in previous transfer windows. Last summer, Real Madrid chose not to sign Martin Zubimendi, who was 26 at the time and widely considered one of Spain’s most technically refined midfielders.

The report notes that Zubimendi waited until the final stages of the transfer window for contact from Madrid. The call never came, and he ultimately joined Arsenal for €60 million.

That decision has since attracted renewed scrutiny as Madrid attempt to rebuild a midfield once dominated by Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić.

Market Search Continues

Real Madrid’s admiration for Rodri dates back to his early career at Atlético Madrid. Even then, the club understood his qualities but recognised that a transfer would be impossible given Atlético’s resistance.

Rodri eventually joined Manchester City, where Pep Guardiola moulded him into the tactical heartbeat of his side. His positional intelligence and control of possession made him an extension of the manager on the pitch.

Today the circumstances have changed again. Sport suggests Madrid would only reconsider Rodri if he were available on a free transfer or nearing the end of his contract.

Meanwhile, the club continues to scan the market for midfield reinforcements. The departures of Kroos and Modrić have exposed an area of vulnerability, and further uncertainty surrounds Dani Ceballos’ future.

Internal options are also being considered, including the potential promotion of academy midfielder Thiago García Pitarch.

For now, the message from Madrid is clear. Rodri remains respected, but he no longer fits the profile of the future they are trying to build.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

From a Manchester City perspective, this report may provoke mixed reactions. Rodri has been the defining midfielder of the Guardiola era, the player who quietly dictates tempo and structure. His influence has often been clearer in absence than presence.

If Real Madrid truly believe the moment to sign him has passed, City supporters might view that as confirmation of his continued importance. Rodri remains one of the most tactically intelligent midfielders in world football. Even approaching 30, players with his positional awareness rarely decline sharply.

Concerns around his knee injury are understandable, but City fans will remember how often he has returned stronger from setbacks. Guardiola has repeatedly described him as the team’s brain.

There is also an irony in Madrid’s hesitation. For years Rodri looked like the perfect heir to Spain’s great midfield lineage. Watching him dominate Champions League matches for City only reinforced that belief.

From a City standpoint, the idea that Madrid would only move if he became a free agent suggests something else entirely. Rodri remains valuable enough that paying a fee feels uncomfortable, but losing him for nothing would suddenly make the equation appealing.

City supporters might read this situation in a simple way. If Madrid are stepping back now, perhaps it strengthens the case for City ensuring Rodri’s future remains firmly at the Etihad.

Oliver Glasner has been banned from driving after exceeding the speed limit in Bermondsey, London, last July

We asked for your thoughts after Wednesday's Premier League game between Aston Villa and Chelsea.

Here are some of your comments:

Villa fans

Peter: Villa are in free fall. This is a worrying slide in form and looking like a top 5 finish is going to evade them. Injuries to key players have hurt us but Emery's stubbornness to change and stick with with out of form players is not helping.

Ian: Its been a good season up untill the last few games, there still in a champions league position.The question for Villa is can they pull together & bounce back ?

Mike: Another woeful performance full of misplaced passes and disjointed build up play. Really frustrating to see how easily we let them in behind our back four. For the third game running I felt the team we finished with should have been the team we started with. Emery really needs to fix this before our season fizzles out.

Kirk: So bored of watching Villa pass it around the defence, As a Villa fan I switched at half time to watch Newcastle's game, Wow what a difference an attack minded approach can give a team. Safe to say I didn't return for the 2nd half. Looks to me like Emery wants out.

Phillip: I don't think it was a bad Villa performance- we were on the wrong side of some tight decisions and were beaten by the better team on the night.

Rob: We've finally run out of gas - both as a team and as individuals. I think some players have reached their ceiling and need to be moved on so everyone can start fresh and unfortunately, hoping Ollie is going to play himself into form isn't going to happen. For everyone moaning how Arsenal parked the bus last night, that might not be a bad strategy at the moment if we go one-up as we did, especially while we wait for our midfield to return.

Chelsea fans

Ahmed: Traditionally Chelsea are always ahead of Villa unless otherwise the game isn't by their side. Statistically Chelsea always dominates Villa especially a t the Park, villa couldn't hold on after 1 goal up, Chelsea capitalised in the dominance game with one of the best performance in this campaign.

Congratulations to JP for your hat-trick, keep thriving.

Brendan: A better performance all round however still too much passing across the back four and too much involvement of our goalkeeper (s). We very nearly gifted them another goalkeeping error. We need to be more disciplined at the back and also be doing a lot more off the ball to create more forward passing opportunities. A very long way still to go.

Phil: Excellent all round performance after going a goal behind. Not comfortable with Fofana and would prefer to see Sarr play. Best game in a Chelsea shirt from both Pedro and Garnacho. We need to keep this up for the rest of the season

James: Just when I thought form was dipping they go and produce a performance like that! Pedro has proven a very astute signing, and if Chelsea can maintain this level top 4 is realistic.

Keith: A good away win and hopefully we can build on it, Garnacho, Hato and João Pedro excellent, but we've got big problems with our keeper's playing out from the back show's they are not up to it.