Selling Rodri to Real Madrid would leave Enzo Maresca with a massive midfield problem at Man City

Manchester City are already entering the unknown as they adjust to life after Pep Guardiola, but that already-gruelling transition could be about to get a whole lot tougher. That is because talismanic midfielder Rodri could be on his way to Real Madrid, who are confident of pulling off what would be a blockbuster deal for Spain's World Cup-winning captain.

The 30-year-old's metronomic displays in North America have convinced Los Blancos to reignite their interest in their long-term target, and they reportedly believe they will be able to bring him to the Bernabeu before the transfer deadline on September 1.

There is an air of inevitability around Rodri's departure; Guardiola's decision to step down has marked the end of an era for City, with other stalwarts also moving on, and the Spaniard is into the final year of his contract at the Etihad having flirted with a move back to his homeland and home city earlier in 2026.

"Would I like to play in Spain again, in La Liga, in Madrid? I would like to return, yes, obviously," he told reporters during the March international break. Addressing a switch to Real specifically, he added: "You can’t turn down one of the world's best clubs."

It's already been a summer of seismic change for City, as Guardiola's leaves an unfillable void, but losing their midfield maestro would cast even more uncertainty over what lies ahead as they begin life under Enzo Maresca.

Irreplaceable

Rodri's career had been significantly disrupted by a dreaded ACL rupture he suffered in September 2024, a month before he lifted the Ballon d'Or in Paris, with a series of subsequent niggles largely stopping him from regaining his flow.

City will point to the midfielder's sporadic absence and the repeated need to be ease him back into action as a huge part of the reason why they have been unable to claim the league title since the 2023-24 campaign, before his injury troubles began, having previously dominated. He had only ever missed seven games for the club before that.

However,

The 30-year-old was

This was more evidence, if we needed it, that Rodri will be simply irreplaceable for City when the time comes for him to depart. And they may well be deprived of "the best Rodri" if he senses that that moment has come after Guardiola's glittering era came to an end, with just one year to run on his contract.

'Every manager wants Rodri'

For his part, Guardiola's replacement, former City first-team coach and Chelsea boss Maresca, is completely unsurprised in the interest in his midfield lynchpin, although he should arguably be much more concerned about the player's potential exit.

"First of all I have to say, that around big players there are always speculations so I am not worried about that,"

"I think every manager wants to have Rodri because he is a top player. But now, surgery on Monday [

What the new manager must remember is that Rodri has been and would continue to be essential to the way City play, drifting between various roles in Maresca's typically fluid system and springing attacks from deep, not to mention the leadership qualities he brings as a World Cup-winning captain.

Overhaul required

Beyond Rodri and new £116 million ($155m) man Elliot Anderson, Maresca is not inheriting a City squad blessed with many midfielders who have shown the calibre required to carry the Spaniard's mantle forward, and that should be a serious worry for the coach if his maestro does return to his homeland this summer.

Would-be like-for-like replacement Nico Gonzalez - signed in part to cover for his compatriot during his ACL layoff - has been one of the lowlights of City's January splurge in 2025, seemingly failing to make any lasting impression on Guardiola and spending the majority of the second half of last season sat on the bench. It's been suggested that he could be sold.

Tijjani Reijnders, too, has

Then we have Mateo Kovacic, Rico Lewis and

Anderson's opportunity?

While he surely would have relished playing alongside Rodri,

Across his meteoric rise at Nottingham Forest, during which

Last season in the Premier League, Anderson won possession more times than anyone else (306)

In short, he can do it all, and he looks ready to shoulder the responsibility of being City's new midfield lynchpin should the Spaniard depart.

However, he could well have support. It's been reported that the club might

Tough transition

Nevertheless, Man City are about to embark on

Key dressing room figures Bernardo Silva - who was named captain last season - and

When combined with Guardiola's emotional exit, that is already a seismic change for City. Retaining Rodri would at least offer a modicum of reassurance, but the mere notion of him leaving really drives home the challenge at hand.

The club hierarchy will be determined to avoid the level of instability that beset the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal after their own legacy managers, Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, stepped aside, but there is no guarantee that Maresca will be a roaring success in light of his mixed time at Chelsea.

Much would depend on some much-needed continuity around the Italian, but Rodri's potential move to Real Madrid would only add to the chaos.

'Give time'

Maresca, though, is keeping a calm head as he prepares for what will be the biggest challenge of his managerial career to date.

"I want to say it is a privilege because the reason why the club decided to go for me, that is a privilege," he said when asked about following in Guardiola's footsteps. "I have said many times, I consider Pep the best coach in the world in the last 20-25 years. It is a challenge.

"Also the history of the manager with many years in the same club, they struggle a bit. Sir Alex, Arsene. But it is also a challenge to do the right things."

Whatever happens,

"The organisation is the main thing. This club and organisation has had three [sic] managers in 17 years. That is not normal and has not happened often. I am confident that we can continue to do a great job and continue to do the job that has been done in the last 14, 15 years since Roberto Mancini was here."

Despite his relaxed stance, it's going to be a bumpy ride at the Etihad next season. Maresca will desperately hope that he has Rodri by his side.