Rodri’s back surgery outcome to have major knock-on effect over Man Utd and Real Madrid transfers

RODRI’S planned back surgery could have a bearing on whether he leaves Manchester City this summer. The 30-year-old is scheduled to go under the knife on Monday and is expected to miss the start of the Premier League season, which gets underway on August 21. Rodri has won the Euros and the World Cup with Spain Credit: Getty Rodri was the best player at the World Cup Credit: FIFA via Getty Images The transfer windows in England and Spain both close at 11pm on September 1. Real Madrid are prepared to move for Rodri if they can sell Aurelien Tchouameni amid a fresh enquiry from Manchester United. Sign up for the Man United newsletter Thank you! Spain international Rodri has entered the final year of his City contract and a return to his homeland on a free next year is also possible. Madrid have signed several players in recent years after their contracts at previous clubs had expired. David Alaba, Antonio Rudiger, Kylian Mbappe, Ibrahima Konate and Bernardo Silva were all free agents. Madrid paid Liverpool a fee of £8.4million a month before Trent Alexander-Arnold’s deal ended so he could play in last year’s Club World Cup, which began in June. Madrid endured a trophyless 2025-26 season and have already bolstered their squad with the arrivals of Konate, Bernardo, Marc Cucurella and Denzel Dumfries under new manager Jose Mourinho. Rodri was named the best player at the World Cup after helping Spain to a second triumph in the tournament. Most read in Sport City signed Rodri from Atletico Madrid in 2019 and the Spain international won the Ballon d’Or in 2024. Rodri has helped City to four successive Premier League titles, the Champions League, three League Cups, two FA Cups and the Club World Cup. He started in Spain’s European Championship and World Cup final wins. Speculation surrounding Rodri’s future has intensified this week now that the World Cup is over and the only Madrid player in the Spain squad was Cucurella, who signed from Chelsea last month. Sources in Madrid say United have shown “strong” interest in Tchouameni after they established he is available. Madrid value Tchouameni at around €80million (£68.37m), which is cheaper than Bournemouth’s asking price for Alex Scott, who United have monitored. Tchouameni has entered the final two years of his contract and is a specialist defensive midfielder, a priority position for United. United have bolstered their midfield with the arrivals of Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa but neither is an outright No.6. Club sources insist they have a “long list” of options and do not have a set target. Tchouameni played at the World Cup Credit: Getty United want a third midfielder Credit: AFP Despite reports claiming that Tchouameni had signed a new deal at the Bernabeu, Madrid have not confirmed a renewal as they are keen on bringing in Rodri. Comment now