Winner of the 2024 Ballon d’Or last month, Rodri is making the rounds of the media. The Spaniard notably discussed his future and the possibility of joining Real Madrid; something he has not ruled out.
On October 28, Rodri (28 years old) was elected Ballon d’Or 2024 during a ceremony organized at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. The Spaniard, a key player in Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and an important element of the Spanish team that won European championship in Germany, was rewarded for his invaluable work behind the scenes. However, many did not imagine him winning this prestigious trophy since Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid, Brazil) was the big favorite. But in the end, the former Atlético de Madrid player defied all predictions. Happy as ever, the midfielder, who is currently injured, is taking advantage of his free time to make the rounds of the media.
Last night, he was also a guest on the show El Larguero on Cadena SER. The opportunity for him to return to his election and all the controversies. “The day we go, everything changes and events happen quickly. When I learned that Madrid would not go to the gala, optimism increased. Everything happened on the fly. […] The information we had was that the format had changed and that the winner would only be discovered at the end. Until the envelope was opened, no one told me anything.” When asked about the ceremony and Real Madrid, he confided: “I don’t know if they will go to other galas or not. It’s a decision they make for their reasons.”
Rodri does not say “no” to Real Madrid
He added: “Vinicius is one of the best in the world. The controversy surrounding him? He is a smart guy and he will realize that the more he pays attention on the pitch, the better he will be. Athletes are also what they represent off the pitch and it is important to take care of that part.”
Then, he admitted that he would have voted for Dani Carvajal, Vinicius Jr and himself, without necessarily giving the order. Still on the airwaves of Cadena SER, Rodri was also asked about his future, he who is happy with Pep Guardiola’s extension at Manchester City.
“I have two years left on my contract, the time is coming to talk again. Guardiola is an important incentive. I feel very appreciated at the club.” However, he did not close the door to a departure, he whose name comes up insistently at the Merengues. The footballer, born in Madrid, admitted: “obviously, when Real Madrid calls you, the best club in history and the most successful, with what that means, it is an honor. You always have to pay attention to it. That goes without saying.” Then, he talked about the rest and the end of his career. “It could perfectly be a possibility to end my career in England. The country gave me everything and I fell in love with English football. But Spain is my country. I always follow La Liga, the level of the teams is getting higher and higher…” Finally, he confided that “Villarreal would be a good place” to end his career.
