Manchester City fans are bracing for Rodri to leave the club, with Real Madrid looking to bring him back to Spain – but Enzo Maresca arguably has someone ready and waiting to replace him.
Speculation has been rife about Rodri’s future for quite some time, while his contract has been winding down.
His current deal expires next summer, so Manchester City have understandably been trying to get him to extend.
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However, the player has not been forthcoming over an extension, and since the World Cup ended, rumours of a move to Real Madrid have been plentiful.
Reports have claimed he’s agreed personal terms – it’s now just about whether the clubs can agree a fee.
If Rodri does go, it’ll be a major blow.
But that will also finally pave the way for Nico Gonzalez to shine for City.
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Rodri departing would leave a huge hole behind.
Quite simply, he is one of the all-time great holding midfielders of the game and City will feel his absence. Fans also think he will transform Real Madrid if he goes there.
Whoever replaces him has massive shoes to fill, but one man who might just be ready to give a better go than most is Nico Gonzalez.
Signed in February 2025 from FC Porto, Gonzalez has been in and out of the City starting XI, mainly deputising when Rodri has been unavailable.
And that is why he ought to be given the chance now by Maresca.
The Spaniard plays the same role as his fellow countryman and like Rodri, is extremely tidy on the ball. He likes to try and control the tempo of games in the same way.
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He is also good physically, and has a similar build to Rodri.
It makes total sense for City to turn to him if Rodri leaves. Especially because Gonzalez has obviously trained many times with Rodri and will have learned heaps about how to play as a single pivot.
City signed Gonzalez for big money – £50 million to be exact. And not long after joining, Pep Guardiola even referred to him as City’s ‘mini-Rodri’.
When arguably the greatest football coach of all time says that about you, you are very clearly on a path to becoming a top-level holding defensive midfielder.
Rodri could now be about to step off that path, finally leaving Gonzalez in the clear to succeed him.
Having cost £50 million and already drawn comparisons to Rodri himself, it would be bizarre for City not to turn to him now.
He was surely signed with this eventuality in mind, and we’ve already seen him have many great games for the club, and that’s without him even having proper rhythm.
If City are going to sell Rodri, then Gonzalez should be his successor, and the funds from the sale should instead be spent on a new winger.
