Rodri offers Manchester City future hint as desire to move into Europe revealed | OneFootball

Manchester City’s newly-crowned Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has revealed his desire to one day return to Spanish football, speaking upon being crowned best in the world.

The 28-year-old reached the pinnacle of the sport this week after becoming the first defensive midfielder to claim the Ballon d’Or prize since Germany’s footballing legend Lothar Matthaus claimed the award in 1990.

Rodri’s success was arguably justice served for the outcome of the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony, after favourite for the prize Erling Haaland was beaten to the trophy by Argentina icon Lionel Messi shortly after his move to Inter Miami.

But the success of Spain’s European Championships hero in Germany and UEFA’s Player of the Tournament over the summer was not met warmly by those of a Real Madrid persuasion, with Los Blancos boycotting the ceremony in support of second-placed Vinicius Jr.

Real Madrid have widely been tipped as being an interested party when it comes to the services of the Manchester City superstar, and it remains to be seen whether the Santiago Bernabeu club’s behaviour will affect any potential pursuit of the midfielder.

Speaking upon being crowned the new best footballer on the planet at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris earlier this week, Rodri admitted his love for the Spanish game as well as his future desire to one day return to the country during his professional playing career.

“I love Spanish football, I represent Spain and also in the national team in the style that marked an era, and I hope one day I can return because it is also my home,” Rodri told reporters in the French capital.

Comments from Rodri on a potential return to Spanish football, and new media reports from the country linking Real with interest in the Manchester City star follows Dani Carvajal’s claims over the summer that he is working on persuading the midfielder to make a move.

“I tell Rodri every day to sign for Real Madrid,” Carvajal said in July. “I tell him every day to leave Manchester City, that there is no sun there and to come to Madrid, that we need him.”

The fellow Ballon d’Or contender continued, “He tells me he has a (Manchester City) contract… but he would be perfect for us.”

Unfortunately for Dani Carvajal and those at Real Madrid, Rodri’s direct response to the right-back’s comments were, “I’m very, very happy in England.”

Manchester City’s UEFA Champions League final hero of 2023 said, “I think I’m at one of the best clubs in the world, it’s obvious, and I’m happy. I have a three-year deal and, when the time comes, I will see.”