The importance of Rodri for Manchester City next season
June 22, 2026 · Global
Rodri has become a crucial figure for Manchester City, playing an important role in midfield. With contract negotiations stalled, the club must ensure they retain their Ballon d'Or winner amid speculation over his future.
Rodri's importance to Manchester City cannot be understated. Rodri remains an integral part of City's midfield. Considering that the team holding the FA Cup and Carabao Cup is entering a new era, Rodri will play a vital role as a leader and driving force for the team next season.
As important as Rodri is to Manchester City, there are doubts surrounding his future at the club, given the Spain international has just 12 months remaining on his contract. Whatever happens with Rodri's contract negotiations, City cannot afford to lose the Ballon d'Or-winning midfielder this summer. He is very important for City and will play a key role once again next season.
Rodri remains one of the best midfielders in world football and Manchester City cannot afford to lose this figure for next season. As Spain beat Saudi Arabia 4-0 in their second Group H match of this summer's World Cup, Rodri showed just how important he is to his country with a display as a real leader in midfield. The Manchester City midfielder controlled the match and his hard work both on and off the ball formed the basis for Spain's strong win.
Rodri received criticism after Spain's 0-0 draw with Cape Verde in their opening Group H match. However, he responded with a strong performance in the evening's game. Ahead of Spain's win over Saudi Arabia, their coach, Luis de la Fuente, responded to criticism that Rodri had slowed down Spain's game after the draw with Cape Verde. The Spanish coach explained in quotes conveyed by ESPN:
"I find it very insulting that people say that about the best player in the world. Would people say the same thing about another player who is considered the best in the world? I don't think they would dare."
"But because they are Spanish, we say things about our own people that we wouldn't say about others... Rodri is the best player in the world. Even at 50%, he is better than most of the other midfielders in the world. He brings clarity, vision and balance. Rodri is an inspiration for us."
Rodri remains one of, if not the, premier midfielder in world football. He has battled his way back from a serious knee injury. Rodri has been fighting his own body throughout the 2025-26 season. But he remains crucial for Manchester City and Spain. City cannot afford to lose Rodri this summer. The chances of that happening seem slim. However, it was a loss City could not afford and Luis de la Fuente's comments were a reminder of what a good player Rodri is.
Rodri's contract negotiations have now stalled. Fabrizio Romano reported yesterday that Manchester City's efforts to extend Rodri's contract have now stalled. According to Romano's report, no agreement has been reached with the Ballon d'Or winning midfielder to extend his contract with Manchester City. Additionally, Romano reports that the possibility that Rodri could leave City as a free agent within the next year is very likely. There is no denying that Rodri has more than deserved his say in whether he will leave Manchester City on a free transfer in 12 months' time.
He has won every trophy on offer plus the Ballon d'Or during his time at the club. His contribution to the club is enormous. You sense that Rodri has one more contribution to make at Manchester City. He will be crucial in leading the team as City begin a new era without Pep Guardiola. Rodri is an inspirational figure at City and he cannot be allowed to leave this summer. It seems that there are no interested parties who want to recruit Rodri this summer. This is good for City as they will need Rodri for what lies ahead during the 2026-27 season.