World champion Rodri is being chased by giants — what happens to Spain if he leaves City?
Named best player at the World Cup, Rodri is a target for Barcelona and Real Madrid. City are worried — and already looking for reinforcements to cover a potential loss.
Named the best player at the World Cup with Spain, Rodri no longer belongs only to Manchester City. He belongs to the wishlist of half of Europe.
According to Trivela, the English club is worried about the midfielder's possible departure this season. Real Madrid and Barcelona have both entered the race — but it is Barça who appears to be leading the chase, according to the outlet.
For City, the equation is simple and alarming: losing Rodri means losing the engine. The midfielder was a central piece in Spain's triumph, and his exit would leave a hole in Manchester that would be very hard to fill.
The English club's response, still according to Trivela, would be to push for another high-profile Premier League midfielder to cover the potential gap — a move that shows just how seriously the situation is being taken internally.
For Spain, the news carries a different flavour. The world-champion side remains the most dominant team on the planet on paper: the Golmetria model points to a 75% chance of winning the next World Cup — a number that reflects a squad built on far more than a single player. But Rodri is the kind of piece that makes everything look easier.
The market, for its part, is more cautious: current odds imply around a 16% chance for Spain — a massive divergence from the model, and one that could represent one of the biggest asymmetries of the cycle.
The saga is far from over. While Barcelona and Real Madrid position themselves, City try to protect their asset. And Rodri, the man who carried Spain to the top of the world, watches it all unfold — with the entire market keeping a close eye on his next move.