Manchester City given go-ahead for Rodrygo deal, with Real Madrid star to move next summer 'no matter what': report
Manchester City target Rodrygo is to leave Real Madrid next summer after struggling to compete with the likes of Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe

Real Madrid winger Rodrygo was a hot topic throughout the summer transfer window, and talk hasn’t died down after a tough start to the season.
He has started just two of Los Blancos’ nine La Liga outings so far, with the emergence of teenager Franco Mastantuono adding to the Brazilian’s woes, already having been forced to the right wing to accommodate Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe.
There was no shortage of interest during the summer, and a move now appears to be back on the cards for Rodrygo, with plenty of Premier League interest.
Summer move for Rodrygo appears to work for all parties
Manchester City were chief among those interested parties during the window, with the suggestion being that Pep Guardiola was a big fan of Rodrygo, ranked at no.6 in FourFourTwo's list of the best right wingers in the world right now.
There was uncertainty at that time around the future of Savinho at the Etihad Stadium, and it was felt that any money collected from that deal could go towards an €80m approach for Rodrygo, according to Spanish outlet Estadio Deportivo.
Neither of those mooted moves transpired, but now, according to Fichajes, Rodrygo’s future is up for debate once more.
The outlet states that several Premier League clubs are tracking the 24-year-old, alert to his lack of prominence at the Bernabeu.
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England’s top tier is said to be appealing to Rodrygo, but publicly, the player has said that his current plan is to remain in Madrid as long as the club want him.
The Spanish site suggests that Los Blancos’ current plan includes a 2026 departure for Rodrygo, with some suggestion that it would represent the last chance to attract a big fee due to the 2028 expiry of his current deal.
In FourFourTwo’s opinion, it’s time for Rodrygo to establish himself as a key figure at a big club, as his talent warrants.
Vinicius and Mbappe are only months his senior, and are both unlikely to be going anywhere any time soon.
Add in the likes of youngsters Mastantuono and Arda Guler, plus competition from Brahim Diaz, and Rodrygo appears to be a player declining in influence rather than growing.
Rodrygo is valued at €80m, according to Transfermarkt. Real Madrid next face Juventus, when Champions League action returns this week.
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Isaac Stacey Stronge is a freelance football writer working for FourFourTwo, Manchester United and Football League World. He has been a season ticket holder at Stockport County throughout the Hatters’ meteoric rise from the National League North to League One and is a die-hard Paddy Madden fan.
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