Rodri: Hoping to return to La Liga and join Real Madrid? I can't possibly turn down the best club.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri said on Thursday that he is open to a return to La Liga.

Rodri trained at the youth academies of Atlético Madrid and Villarreal in his early career, and also played for both teams in La Liga early in his professional career. During this period, he made 131 appearances and contributed to 12 goals, winning a European Super Cup.

In July 2019, Rodri joined Manchester City for £62.6 million. To date, he has made 293 appearances for Manchester City, contributing 28 goals and 32 assists, winning one Champions League title, one Club World Cup title, four Premier League titles, one UEFA Super Cup title, one FA Cup title, three League Cup titles, and one Community Shield title with the team, and was also awarded the Ballon d'Or in 2024.

Despite his illustrious career at Manchester City, Rodri still hopes to one day return to La Liga. In an interview with Spanish radio station Onda Cero, he stated clearly: "I want to go back. For me, La Liga is where my career started. I'm still following La Liga, although not as frequently as before."

Regarding the Premier League, Rodri said: "The Premier League is both fascinating and extremely challenging for me. It really pushes you to the limit, doesn't it? I've been in the Premier League for seven years. I've felt the passage of time, but so far, I've been very happy in the Premier League."

Rodri's current contract with Manchester City runs until June 2027. Regarding the contract extension, he remained calm: "I don't want to avoid the issue. I've just recovered from injury, and right now my biggest concern is my physical condition and performance level. I want to get back to my best form as soon as possible. As for the contract, it will naturally be resolved at the appropriate time. With the World Cup approaching, my current focus is on maintaining a high level of performance."

“I still have one year left on my contract,” he then emphasized again. “Someday, we will sit down and discuss a renewal.”

According to Matteo Moreto, Real Madrid has listed Rodri as their top transfer target this summer. Despite the rampant transfer rumors, Rodri remains relatively cautious: "I don't know (about the rumors of a transfer to Real Madrid). They won't contact me directly, but rather my agent." As for whether his past experience playing for Atletico Madrid would hinder his move to Real Madrid, Rodri's response was enigmatic: "I can't turn down the most successful club in the world."

Image source: Internet