16 | Rodri 2025/26

[meeesh]

I'm still reeling at the news on here that Marmoush is on 300 a week, gobsmacked.

 

[alexmcity]

The club shouldn't be shocked when they're handing out absurd wages to all these new signings the last 2 season and be surprised when someone like Rodri who's been with us for years wants wages as high as that..

I'm sure Rodri wants much higher wages than Reijnders. Which means 350k at least.

The fact he's been on lower wages than younger and inferior players sounds like the club bosses have fucked up. The contract he signed in 2022 didn't reflect his quality a year later, as he was a top 5 player in the world in the Treble season. Maybe the injury got in the way of our plans. But perhaps it was him who didn't want to discuss a new contract. We don't really know.

 

[David Silva]

I'm sure Rodri wants much higher wages than Reijnders. Which means 350k at least.

The fact he's been on lower wages than younger and inferior players sounds like the club bosses have fucked up. The contract he signed in 2022 didn't reflect his quality a year later, as he was a top 5 player in the world in the Treble season. Maybe the injury got in the way of our plans. But perhaps it was him who didn't want to discuss a new contract. We don't really know.

The problem with it running for so long is this extension now becomes risky for city. Ideally he’d have been made one of the biggest earners in 2023 as you say.

But to give him KDB wages now risks a Salah type situation, exacerbated by his injuries. Rodri will want a 4 year deal this summer I suspect, so I can see why we are being careful. Still, hopefully we can find a resolution as replacing him will be a nightmare we don’t need any time soon.

 

[blue b4 the moon]

Not looking too good IMO.

Sorting stuff out after the WC sounds like a move to me, if he was 100% staying his agent and him could sign with us very quickly.

As it is I think we've had by far the best of him with his current way of playing of course, there's nothing to say he could tweak how he plays after the injury, which he's still not fully recovered from and re-invent himself as a top 5 in the world player for another 3/4 years.

 

[Mon Autre]

Feels like after a decade of maintaining a really strong scouting and robust wage structure, its all become a bit precarious these past couple of years.

That said, i dont think the solution here is to give Rodri an insane contract. I would happily let him see out his contract on his current salary and leave after next year. Age isnt on his side and i dont think we'll see prime Rodri consistently again anyway.

 

[alexmcity]

The problem with it running for so long is this extension now becomes risky for city. Ideally he’d have been made one of the biggest earners in 2023 as you say.

But to give him KDB wages now risks a Salah type situation, exacerbated by his injuries. Rodri will want a 4 year deal this summer I suspect, so I can see why we are being careful. Still, hopefully we can find a resolution as replacing him will be a nightmare we don’t need any time soon.

I agree. It's risky.

But it also is risky to lose him. Because if he gets fit again, he may be a top player for another 3-4 years, at least for 35-40 games a season (like Stones used to be) rather than 50+.

There's no risk free strategy for the club here, and for Rodri as well. Because if he doesn't sign a new contract and gets another bad injury, he will be without a club in 27/28...

 

[Mon Autre]

I agree. It's risky.

But it also is risky to lose him. Because if he gets fit again, he may be a top player for another 3-4 years, at least for 35-40 games a season (like Stones used to be) rather than 50+.

There's no risk free strategy for the club here, and for Rodri as well. Because if he doesn't sign a new contract and gets another bad injury, he will be without a club in 27/28...

I just cant imagine a 33 or 34 year old Rodri being fit or on form enough across the course of a season to justify the money.

The club have made a mess of the contract situation but to me the choice now is to let him leave for free at the end of next season or tie up a huge amount of salary budget on him for 4 more years (of which he'd probably only be worth it for two) Id sooner let him leave a year early then keep him around for 2 years too many.

Wouldnt countenance letting him go this summer as it would be too much overhaul at once.

 

[alexmcity]

I just cant imagine a 33 or 34 year old Rodri being fit or on form enough across the course of a season to justify the money.

The club have made a mess of the contract situation but to me the choice now is to let him leave for free at the end of next season or tie up a huge amount of salary budget on him for 4 more years (of which he'd probably only be worth it for two) Id sooner let him leave a year early then keep him around for 2 years too many.

Wouldnt countenance letting him go this summer as it would be too much overhaul at once.

If we mess up the transitional period after Pep, we may wait for a PL/CL title longer than we imagine now. And without Rodri the chance that we win the title within the next 2 years will be worse.

Shallow financial calculations may be highly costly.

If Marmoush and Foden are on 300k a week (both squad players now), the idea that it will be a huge problem for the club if Rodri is paid better might be right (if he is injury prone) but also foolish (if he avoids regular injuries).

 

[Edghill OG]

I must say I'm disappointed at the rumours around Gvardiol, Dias, Rodri etc. Guess it proves the lack of loyalty in football.

Gvardiol and Rodri have had long term injuries and been picking up a nice sum on the sidelines whilst receiving the best medical care possible. Leaves a sour taste when they only just come back and are potentially looking elsewhere.

Genuinely surprised with Rodri. Playing for Atletico you'd think he'd naturally despise them. Being knocked out to them on a few occasions in the Champions League against the run of play, specifically remember the time it went to pens and him being furious saying 'there was only one team trying to play football'. The whole way they disrespected him around the Balon Dor situation completely stank too. Come on Rodders give your head a wobble. You're loved here. No way they'd have the same affection for you over there.

Do wonder why the club have left it this late to sort his contract situation out. Presumably they wanted to see how he got on after the injury. Don't look the same team without him which is enough for me.

 

[Mon Autre]

If we mess up the transitional period after Pep, we may wait for a PL/CL title longer than we imagine now. And without Rodri the chance that we win the title within the next 2 years will be worse.

Shallow financial calculations may be highly costly.

If Marmoush and Foden are on 300k a week (both squad players now), the idea that it will be a huge problem for the club if Rodri is paid better might be right (if he is injury prone) but also foolish (if he avoids regular injuries).

Think we're broadly in agreement. The wage structure is clearly out of whack. I guess my view is we cant fix overpaying Marmoush by throwing good money after bad. Its a slippery slope having seen how that strategy has repeatedly played out for United.

On balance, id suspect Rodri wont be prime Rodri beyond another year or two at best. So i would take a risk letting him leave slightly sooner and not prolong the wage spiral. Its a total guess but its where im landing on it.
Smooth the post Pep transition by keeping him one last year and then move on the next.

Of course, none of the above even takes into account the fact he seems to quite fancy leaving. In which case, i would definitely let him go after next year.

 

[Tricky_Trev]

Sounds like he’s going. Mentioning his focus is on the World Cup but if there wasn’t one, ‘things would be different’ hmm

I agree. The only thing that could mean is that there’s something he wants to say - something big, something disruptive - and the existence of a World Cup is delaying when he feels ready to say it. He’s leaving. Remains to be seen whether it’s this summer or next, but he isn’t signing a new deal.

 

[normskih]

Think we're broadly in agreement. The wage structure is clearly out of whack. I guess my view is we cant fix overpaying Marmoush by throwing good money after bad. Its a slippery slope having seen how that strategy has repeatedly played out for United.

On balance, id suspect Rodri wont be prime Rodri beyond another year or two at best. So i would take a risk letting him leave slightly sooner and not prolong the wage spiral. Its a total guess but its where im landing on it.
Smooth the post Pep transition by keeping him one last year and then move on the next.

Of course, none of the above even takes into account the fact he seems to quite fancy leaving. In which case, i would definitely let him go after next year.

Sensible post.
Totally agree about City’s wage structure having an excellent wage structure in place for years. Regarding players seeing out their contract, we have been blessed by players wanting to stay for many years, extending contracts etc, maybe now and especially with our big pull factor gone, this won’t be the case.

 

[FinallyGoodwin]

I'm of the opinion that we also need to know when the right time to let a player leave is. Being honest, he is not 25 years old and in his prime years, he is going to be 30 at the end of this month. Whilst he is still unbelievable when fit, he is not the player of the Balon D'or year and I don't think we should be held over a barrel.

Will he remain fit? Giving a bumper new contract to a player who suddenly has a lot of question marks just doesn't seem like good business or make much footballing sense when you take the emotion out of it.

I want him to stay, but if we remain a world apart in terms of an offer, then let him go for free and thank you for everything.

 

[madloaf]

I'm still reeling at the news on here that Marmoush is on 300 a week, gobsmacked.

Why gobsmacked? 300 quid a week seems about right.

 

[meeesh]

Why gobsmacked? 300 quid a week seems about right.

If only it was mate, if only it was, and that's 50 more than it should be as well.

 

[Jezza11]

Has to be worth the financial risk given he’s been getting paid less than some squad players have with a balon door on the mantle piece, clubs already saved on his wages. Surely cant let him go this summer with Pep, Bernardo, Stones. Far too much change all at once

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Rodri seems to have loose lips when he’s in Spain.

I’m not going to read too much into it as if we offer enough, he’ll likely sign, but why wouldn’t Rodri wait to see who the next manager is and how the land now lies?

He's also got a World Cup to focus on.

 

[Mon Autre]

Has to be worth the financial risk given he’s been getting paid less than some squad players have with a balon door on the mantle piece, clubs already saved on his wages. Surely cant let him go this summer with Pep, Bernardo, Stones. Far too much change all at once

Change doesnt have to be this year though? Keep him on for next year.

 

[St.Pauli support]

I doubt Rodri wants to play PL another 3 years. He has indicated already that it's more difficult post ACL. Would be surprised about an extension.

Asking City for big money makes it easier for Real to get him at a reduced rate this summer, but what would Real pay??

Or maybe we are happy to lose him on a free for a better transition.
Feel he wants out.

 

[Gabriel]

1. demand a high wage to renew and hope your partner might relocate
2. see out the final year and then return home under freedom of contract
3. leave this summer

As long as his partner is happy to wait another year, option 2 makes most short-term and long-term sense. He doesn't massively inconvenience any squad development (here or there), he collects his bounty, and he knows that he hasn't burnt his bridges if he wants to work in a business capacity within the CFG.