World Cup Golden Ball winner eager to join Real Madrid, has rejected renewal offers from Man City

World Cup Golden Ball winner eager to join Real Madrid, has rejected renewal offers from Man City Freshly crowned world champion Rodri is eager for Real Madrid to make a formal transfer offer as he wishes to return to Spain this summer, reports journalist Ramon Alvarez . The 30-year-old midfield general has rejected several lucrative contract renewal offers from the Premier League heavyweights, paving the way for a potential blockbuster return to the Spanish capital. With his current deal expiring next summer, Manchester City find themselves under immense pressure to sell or risk losing the player for free. A historic World Cup and Golden Ball success Rodri’s desire for a move to the Santiago Bernabeu comes directly after cementing his status as one of football’s all-time greats on the international stage. The best player at the World Cup wants to join Real Madrid. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) Captaining Spain to a historic victory at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the midfielder put on a succession of masterclasses that orchestrated La Roja’s unbeaten championship run. His composure, leadership, and tactical dominance across every match culminated in him being awarded the prestigious Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player, beating out elite global talent. Rodri set an all-time tournament record by completing 648 passes, serving as the absolute heartbeat of Spain’s midfield and controlling the tempo of every single high-stakes encounter. The standoff at the Etihad Despite Manchester City investing significant energy to secure his long-term commitment, the player has maintained a wall of resistance. Club officials have made little to no progress in renewal talks. Will Rodri get his desired move? (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images) Rodri has consistently turned down the extensions presented to him, having previously delayed any final decisions on his future until the conclusion of the tournament in North America. Real Madrid’s internal dilemma While Rodri is highly eager for Real Madrid to advance with a concrete proposal, the institutional noises coming from the Spanish club’s hierarchy have remained mixed. Senior figures within the Madrid dressing room have spoken about how invaluable his addition would be to the squad’s central framework. However, the club’s board has shown resistance to being drawn into a public transfer saga and has maintained that the Spaniard is not in their plans . With Rodri making his desire clear by repeatedly rejecting Manchester City, the ball is now firmly in Real Madrid’s court to capitalise on the momentum of his Golden Ball success.