Real Madrid‘s pursuit of Manchester City midfielder Rodri Hernández has reached a financial impasse, with a €20m gap separating the clubs’ valuations. According to reports from Spanish radio journalist Sergio Valentín on Es Radio, relayed by Managing Madrid, City will not consider offers below €80m for the Spain international, while Madrid have indicated they will not exceed €60m.
The discrepancy leaves the transfer in limbo despite the player’s reported determination to leave the Etihad Stadium. Rodri, whose contract runs until 2027, is said to wish to join the Bernabéu outfit for personal and sporting reasons. With his deal entering its final year this summer, Madrid believe they hold structural leverage, though City appear unwilling to lower their demands accordingly.
The Valuation Divide
Manchester City’s stance reflects Rodri’s status as a World Cup winner and arguably the world’s premier defensive midfielder. Losing him would necessitate significant recruitment to maintain midfield stability. The €80m figure represents a premium valuation for a player of his calibre, even with limited time remaining on his current agreement.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, are working within a €60m framework that accounts for diminishing contractual control. From their perspective, paying full market value for a player with twelve months remaining on his deal presents difficulties internally, regardless of his technical quality. Neither position lacks logic, which complicates rapid resolution.
Contract Complications and Timeline
The summer window presents narrowing options for all parties. City could attempt to extend Rodri’s contract to remove Madrid’s leverage entirely, though this becomes impossible if the player’s desire to depart is immovable. Conversely, Madrid hope that as the 2026-27 season approaches, City’s choices will reduce to accepting a reduced fee or retaining an unsettled squad member.
Competition from other elite clubs could alter the dynamic significantly. Should a rival bidder emerge willing to meet the €80m valuation, Madrid would face pressure to increase their offer or risk losing the target entirely. Currently, no such challenger has materialised in available reports.
With weeks rather than months remaining to conclude business before the new campaign, the coming period will determine whether compromise is possible. The figures cited originate from a single radio source, and actual negotiating positions may differ from those reported. Nevertheless, the parameters described—€80m as City’s floor and €60m as Madrid’s ceiling—suggest the next phase of this saga will hinge on which side adjusts their stance first.