Iker Casillas urges Real Madrid to sign Rodri

Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas has publicly expressed his desire to see Manchester City midfielder Rodri join Los Blancos, noting the Spanish midfielder is in the final year of his contract at the Etihad and has been linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu throughout 2023‑24. Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, is entering the final twelve months of his Manchester City contract, with renewal talks currently under way. His contract situation has intensified speculation about a possible transfer to Real Madrid. The speculation grew after Real Madrid’s recent presidential election, where challenger Enrique Riquelme publicly pledged to sign Rodri alongside Erling Haaland if he defeated incumbent Florentino Perez. Several Real Madrid legends, including Iker Casillas, publicly backed Riquelme’s campaign. Florentino Perez ultimately retained the presidency and has continued his summer rebuild under returning manager Jose Mourinho. Mourinho has already been linked with interest in Manchester City players during this transfer window.

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Despite Perez’s well‑documented reluctance to pursue Rodri this summer, direct club‑to‑club communication between Real Madrid and Manchester City on the matter has already taken place. No public indication suggests that Perez’s stance has changed since his re‑election. In a new interview with Stake, the 45‑year‑old Iker Casillas said: “Rodri is one of the best players in the world and I always love seeing the best players at Real Madrid. Right now, Rodri is under contract with Manchester City but hopefully, he’ll be able to wear the Real Madrid jersey in the future.”

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Casillas also commented on Rodri’s role with the Spanish national team ahead of the FIFA World Cup, stating: “For Spain, I believe that Rodri, given his experience and the kind of player he is, he has the leadership qualities to be that key figure on the team at the World Cup.” Whether Casillas’ personal wish will translate into an actual transfer remains uncertain. The next steps will depend on Real Madrid’s strategic priorities and Manchester City’s willingness to negotiate.