Gaizka Mendieta drops the “bomb”! Where does Rodri want to transfer

Real Madrid's interest in Rodri (29) has been discussed for months. President Florentino Perez believes that the Manchester City midfielder could be the team's new “brain” in midfield, where the club has failed to compensate with appropriate transfers for the losses of Toni Kroos, retired from the activity, and Luka Modric, whose contract was not extended and left for AC Milan.

Gaizka Mendieta: “Rodri has a strong, deep connection with Barcelona”

However, Real's plan with Rodri could be turned upside down – claims former Spanish international Gaizka Mendieta (51 years old). In an interview given to the “BethBrothers” portal, the former midfielder of Valencia, Lazio and FC Barcelona said that he does not believe in a transfer of the European champion from 2024 to the “Santiago Bernabeu”.

Gaizka Mendieta

“If Rodri wants to leave Manchester City, he will certainly reach an agreement with the club. But I'm telling you he won't go to Real Madrid. He has a strong, deep connection with Barcelona, ​​maintained at Manchester City through the collaboration with Pep Guardiola and Txiki Begiristain, who played and then worked for the Catalan group,” explained Mendieta.

Rodri has not extended with Manchester City and is waiting to see what Pep Guardiola does

The former international admits that “in the end, Rodri will decide personally where he wants to play. But I think it would be very difficult for him to transfer to Real”. The midfielder's contract with Manchester City expires in 2027 and he has not extended it so far.

And many Spanish and British publications speculate that he is waiting to see what Guardiola does: “If Pep leaves City in the summer, as is rumored, then Rodri will leave too. At 29 years old, the next contract could be the last of his career and he will certainly want to continue playing at a big club“.