City sound out Mac Allister as Rodri's future takes another twist
If there was any hope that the Rodri saga might quietly fizzle out this summer, events on Thursday evening suggested otherwise. City have been in contact with the camp of Alexis Mac Allister, exploring the possibility of bringing the Liverpool midfielder to the Etihad as a replacement for the Spain international.
The claim comes from Matt Thielen, co-owner and editor-in-chief of LFC Transfer Room, who posted on X at 5:59pm on August 6 that City had made contact with Mac Allister's representatives. Thielen, a judge at the 2021 Football Content Awards, said the Argentine is on City's shortlist of potential reinforcements should Rodri leave.
Mac Allister has been at Anfield since 2023, winning the Premier League and the EFL Cup once each with the Reds. At 27, he is at the peak of his powers, and City evidently view him as a suitable candidate to fill the void left by Rodri.
That void is looking increasingly likely. Rodri is out of contract in the summer of 2027, and there are no signs he will extend his stay at the Etihad. Real Madrid have long been linked with the 30-year-old, but according to TEAMtalk's Graeme Bailey, the Spanish giants have now walked away.
"Real were somewhat shocked by the news from Rodri and his camp that Barcelona had emerged as a potentially better landing spot, and they were informed of that earlier this week," Bailey told TEAMtalk.
Bailey says Madrid had spent months outlining the role they wanted Rodri to play, with Jose Mourinho fully behind the move. But the club's hierarchy have decided to back away, taking a simple stance: if you're not fully committed to Real Madrid, you're not the player they want.
"They wish Rodri well, but they only wanted him if he genuinely saw his future at the Bernabeu," Bailey added. "Real are adamant they are walking away, and Rodri's camp accepts that."
The immediate consequence, as Bailey notes, is that City once again lose the leverage of having two major clubs competing for his signature. With Madrid out of the picture, Barcelona appear to be the only serious destination for Rodri — which could simplify negotiations, even if it makes a departure more likely.
For City, the focus turns to Mac Allister. Whether the Argentine would actually leave Liverpool for a direct rival remains to be seen, but the groundwork has been laid. If Rodri does go, the Blues will need a plan. Mac Allister appears to be it.