A contract renewal at Manchester City is not Rodri’s priority at present, the Spain international has admitted.
The 28-year-old remains at the centre of a long recovery process having undergone surgery on a double knee injury sustained in the dramatic 2-2 draw with Arsenal in September of the ongoing season.
Rodri’s injury did not take any shine away from his achievements within the game however, going on to become the first defensive midfielder to win the Ballon d’Or since German legend Lothar Matthaus in 1990.
And while Manchester City will no doubt miss the services of the Spaniard during his time off the pitch, the Etihad Stadium club are prepared to put their entire faith and support into the player through a new and improved contract offer.
Speaking during a new interview with El Partidazo de COPE, Rodri was quizzed on his City future and his prospects of extending his stay at the Etihad Stadium beyond his current deal, which runs until the summer of 2027.
“Renewing with (Manchester) City is not my priority right now,” Rodri admitted. “I want to recover (from injury) and we’ll see… I like to live in the present, I have a contract with and I am very, very happy there.”
The Ballon d’Or winner continued, “Ever since I went to England, well, I feel like it’s been my home. In the end, opening and closing doors now doesn’t make much sense.
“I watch the Spanish league and it still passionates me, I watch the big clubs and how they grow.”
For now, Manchester City will continue to source solutions to Rodri’s absence within their existing roster of players, with manager Pep Guardiola having turned to the likes of Ilkay Gundogan and Mateo Kovacic in recent contests.
There does remain the possibility that City could yet enter into the January transfer market should the right profile of player emerge on the scene, with Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi understood to be among the players admired by the Premier League champions.
