Pep Guardiola has confirmed Manchester City want midfielder Rodri to remain beyond the current campaign but will not prevent a transfer to Real Madrid should the player wish to leave.

Rodri is entering the final 12 months of his contract at the Etihad, and the uncertainty over his future means this could be City’s last opportunity to recoup a fee near his peak value. Guardiola stressed that, despite that commercial reality, the midfielder remains central to his plans.

When asked whether he would maintain his previous position that any player unhappy at the club should be allowed to go, Guardiola replied: “Absolutely,” he vowed. “The organisation of the club is above all of us. If one player is not happy, they have to leave.

“Continue the same here if they are happy, and I think he is happy. If he is not happy just knock on the door of the sporting director, accept an offer according to his incredible quality, and after that he doesn’t belong to the club, only himself.”

Guardiola also accepted the appeal of Real Madrid for a player of Rodri’s profile, while underlining his belief that City want the Spain international to stay.

“I know what the club wants,” he said. “They informed me what they want from Rodri, it is to stay, stay, stay. I think [he will]. Always, I had the positive [feeling] with that but in the end I don’t know.”

He added: “There is not one player that will turn [down] the chance to play for Madrid. He was born in Spain. Always my wish is that Rodri could stay as long as possible in this club because he’s an incredible, top player.”

For now Guardiola’s public position is clear: City want Rodri to remain, but will respect the player’s decision if he chooses to pursue a move to Madrid.

Sergio Agüero has been forced to suspend his post-retirement senior appearances after sustaining a serious Achilles injury in an over-35 fixture. The 37-year-old was injured during a clash against River Plate in Argentina’s +35 Senior League Cup. His side went on to win 2–0, but Agüero had to leave the field after suffering what was described as a “heavy blow” to his left ankle.

Teammates and opponents helped Agüero from the pitch. He later posted a video to his Instagram story to explain the diagnosis. “I had an MRI and it was confirmed that I tore my [Achilles] tendon,” he Agüero revealed. “Tomorrow, I will start the tests and I will have to have surgery. There’s no other option. I want to thank all the boys from Independiente and also those from River who were worried.”

Following the operation, Agüero shared a smiling picture from his hospital bed. The injury now places his involvement in senior football on indefinite hold as he begins rehabilitation.

Since retiring from elite-level play, Agüero has remained active in alternative competitions. He has taken part in the Kings League, appearing on court in Spain in 2023, and his KRÜ FC team is competing in Kings League Mexico in 2026. Those appearances formed part of his attempt to return to the pitch in a different capacity.

Returning to full-sided matches for the club he supported as a child had been a clear ambition. Agüero left Independiente to join Atlético Madrid at the age of 18 and had always hoped to make a comeback there. A heart problem discovered when he was 33 curtailed plans that may otherwise have allowed him to extend his playing career beyond a two-year contract at Barcelona, so the chance to play in veterans’ fixtures carried personal significance. Playing veterans’ matches “isn’t quite the same,” but it helped make that dream a reality. Only days before rupturing his Achilles, he said: “I’m going to be around here, so I hope to keep adding games.”

Rodri has responded sharply to criticism of his recent comments about a potential move to Real Madrid, urging doubters to listen to the full interview before forming a view. He did not shrink from the subject in public comments after Spain’s win, saying: “You can’t turn down one of the world’s best clubs,” he said . “Real Madrid is always Real Madrid. The door is not closed.”

The remarks predictably drew widespread attention and left many City fans unhappy, particularly given the timing after the team’s exit from the Champions League. Rodri rejected the suggestion that he had been courting another club deliberately, arguing the press had overplayed selected extracts from a longer conversation.

“I’m used to it,” he laughed in the mixed zone after Spain’s 3–0 win over Serbia. “If, out of a 50-minute interview, they cut out whatever they want … in the end, I don’t have much more to say.

“I’m a person who speaks directly. The interview is there if you want to listen to it in its entirety … and not just certain snippets.”

Behind the headlines are clear reasons why Real Madrid would consider midfield reinforcements. The departures of Luka Modrić and Toni Kroos have left a visible void, and after failing to land a suitable replacement last summer the club are expected to pursue a new tempo-setter this window.

Rodri’s résumé makes him a high-profile option. He is described in the coverage as an undisputed superstar with La Liga experience and as close to a guarantee as Madrid could find. That standing sits in contrast with interest in younger prospects such as Adam Wharton and Kees Smit, which some supporters find less persuasive.

There are also complications. An anterior cruciate ligament tear at the start of last season is cited as having left him diminished for a period, and reports say Madrid officials remain unconvinced he has fully returned to the level that won the 2024 Ballon d’Or. Wages and comparative cost are further considerations, and any approach would depend on complete confidence in his fitness and form. Rodri enters the final 12 months of his contract, a factor that could influence decision-making on both sides.