Manchester City would rule themselves out of the Premier League title race this season by letting Rodri leave.
That’s according to talkSPORT host Adam Catterall, as Ashley Williams labelled the midfielder as the world’s best player.
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talkSPORT understands that Real Madrid have opened talks with City to sign Rodri this summer.
City want to keep the midfielder for the upcoming season, even if he doesn’t sign a new deal at the Etihad Stadium.
However, with one year left on his current contract in Manchester, it’s understood that Rodri wants to move to Madrid.
If Lille star Ayyoub Bouaddi was to sign for City, then they could well be more inclined to sanction an exit for the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner.
Rodri would still be a massive miss, so much so that Catterall believes his absence will damage City’s hopes of winning the title.
Hot Rod
“There’s a lot of chat about Rodri, at the moment, off the back of his fantastic World Cup (with Spain),” he said on Saturday Session.
“I know that off the back of his injury last year, he wasn’t at his scintillating best, but the World Cup kind of pointed in the direction that the Ballon d’Or winner is back to his very, very best.
“I genuinely believe that if he does go to Real Madrid in this window, that will scupper any chances that Manchester City have of winning the Premier League.
“I think he’s that influential. He has to be at City, if City are going to make a Premier League challenge this year.”
Catterall then asked: “Am I going too far with that? Can one player be that influential in a team?”
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Former Premier League defender Williams answered yes to the latter question, and said: “If it’s him… the best player in the world right now, Rodri.
“My concern is that they’ve brought in Elliot Anderson and think, ‘We can probably live without Rodri’, they can’t, I think they need both of them. I love Elliot Anderson, I think he’s brilliant, he’ll be the future.
“But wouldn’t it be great for him to have all that he’s got already and learn off Rodri with the way he plays? And have both of them at least overlapping for a couple of seasons.
“At no point would you ever, ever get rid of Rodri, for no amount of money. They could offer me whatever and I wouldn’t sell Rodri.”
What has been said on Rodri?
Ahead of his first season as City manager, Enzo Maresca has had to deal with an uncertain future over one of his key players.
However, when asked about the latest information he could give on the 30-year-old, he said It’s just speculation at this moment.
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“Rodri had the (minor back) surgery last Monday, everything was fine,” Maresca said.
“Now some days off, and then back with us when he finishes his holiday.”