The 24-year-old attracted huge interest at the Etihad Stadium last summer as City drew up a list of alternatives to Savinho, who was open to joining Tottenham following interest from north London.
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Manchester City were against the sale of Savinho but identified Rodrygo as their preferred replacement for the former, who remained in the north-west beyond the close of the recent summer window and signed a new long-term contract in October.
Regardless, Rodrygo is a player long appreciated by Pep Guardiola, who has seen the Brazilian winger score a series of crucial match-defining goals against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League over the years.
Guardiola is believed to have privately indicated his desire to work with Rodrygo several times to the Manchester City hierarchy over the years, with the Catalan manager now in the final 18 months of his current contract.
Rodrygo faces an uncertain future at the Santiago Bernabeu and after deciding against the possibility of a move to the Premier League last summer, the attacker is understood to have been left dissatisfied with his prospects under Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti in 2025.
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As reported by Sport and broadcast by Sport Witness, Rodrygo has changed his stance on his future at Real Madrid and is actively seeking a route out the door in 2026, although a January sale is highly unlikely for the striker.
It has been added that Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool are interested in landing a strike for one of Brazil’s most talented stars, with Guardiola in particular expected to closely monitor developments surrounding Rodrygo’s future in the Spanish capital.
The report claims that Rodrygo and his father have “learned from their mistakes” and have made a decision on his future at Real Madrid, and Manchester City could offer an attractive option for the sought-after superstar.
Arsenal are understood to have made an informal approach to Rodrygo in late 2025, but nothing materialised. The Gunners and Manchester City are said to be the Brazilian’s most likely destinations should he move on and part ways with Real Madrid.
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Alonso has faced criticism for his team’s inconsistent performances in La Liga since his arrival, with the likes of Vinicius Jr. publicly criticizing the manager and his in-game decisions to substitute the 25-year-old on several occasions.
Jeremy Doku has shown excellent form on the left wing in recent months, having spent the last few weeks on the sidelines, and with club captain Bernardo Silva in the final year of his contract, Manchester City could do with attacking reinforcements when they enter the summer transfer market.