Real Madrid still interested in Rodri - sources

Real Madrid have renewed interest in Manchester City midfielder Rodri, Spain's World Cup-winning captain and best player of the tournament, according to multiple sources who spoke to ESPN. While the club had previously ruled out a move due to president Florentino Pérez's doubts about Rodri's injury record and new coach José Mourinho preferring a different midfield profile, influential Madrid executives are now more open to signing him following his World Cup performances. The 30-year-old, who won the 2024 Ballon d'Or, has been recovering slowly from a knee ligament tear suffered in September 2024, and ESPN confirmed no negotiations have yet taken place between the two clubs.