For years now, Rodri Hernández has shown that he’s one of the best midfielders, and one of the best players, in the world. That’s why, despite a serious knee injury suffered at the peak of his career, Manchester City are eager for the Spaniard to remain at the Premier League club for many years to come.

In June 2022, after extending his City contract until 2027, Rodri declared: “Manchester City give me the best chance of winning trophies, that’s why I’m delighted to be staying here.” Two years later, having got his hands on every major piece of silverware available to him under the stewardship of head coach Pep Guardiola, the winner of the 2024 Men’s Ballon d’Or is more cautious when talking about his future.

Man City out to tie Rodri down to new deal

City are eager to extend the contract of a player who is one of the team’s stars. The club, which sees Rodri as a cornerstone of its project and is prepared to pay him figures that no other team in Europe can match, is ready to hand him an eye-watering new deal that would place him in the same pay bracket as the squad’s highest earners, on a par with the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Erling Haaland and Phil Foden. Currently, De Bruyne is the top-paid player in the Premier League, with a weekly wage that exceeds £400,000 ($520,000), The Belgian is closely followed by Haaland, who pockets around £375,000 ($485,000) a week.

In April, The Sun reported that City are ready to double Rodri’s wages, which currently sit at about £180,000 ($230,000) a week.

Real Madrid keen to take Rodri to Bernabéu

Asked about his future amid transfer links in September, in his last press conference before suffering a serious knee injury against Arsenal, the former Villarreal and Atlético Madrid player said: “I have three more years [on my contract] at Manchester City and when I sign the contract I don’t think of other teams. So I have three more years at Manchester City and nothing more to say.”

As Diario AS has reported previously, Real Madrid are keeping close tabs on Rodri’s situation.

Earlier this year, The Athletic reported that Los Blancos are eagerly awaiting the outcome of the 115 Premier League charges against City for alleged financial irregularities. If City are found guilty and face a significant punishment, The Athletic says, the Spanish and European champions believe this could present them with their chance to lure Rodri back to Spain.