PSG step up Rodri interest after losing Real Madrid transfer battle for Diomande

Paris St-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has moved to explore a deal for Manchester City midfielder Rodri after seeing Real Madrid hijack the signing of Ivorian talent Diomande, according to reports in Spain.

Al-Khelaifi is understood to have reacted swiftly once it became clear last Thursday that PSG had lost the race for Diomande, with Real Madrid turning the situation around in a short space of time, Spanish newspaper AS reported.

A phone call followed by a decisive meeting is said to have been enough to convince the Ivory Coast international to change course and focus fully on joining Real Madrid, having previously appeared close to Paris St-Germain.

Once Diomande was informed of Real Madrid’s interest, he cooled on the idea of moving to the French champions and instead revived what is described as a long-held ambition to wear the famous white shirt and line up alongside Kylian Mbappe and his new team-mates – a dream he had spoken about during his spell at Leganes.

Al-Khelaifi turns to Rodri

Those developments prompted Al-Khelaifi to act, with the PSG president issuing direct instructions to open contact with Rodri’s representative in a bid to respond to Real Madrid after missing out on Diomande.

The move has been presented not as a public-relations exercise or a bargaining ploy, but as a concrete initiative driven by Al-Khelaifi’s determination not to lose the Diomande race without attempting a comparable counter-move against the Spanish club.

The PSG hierarchy are also said to be mindful of previous media reports suggesting that Rodri harbours an interest in playing for Real Madrid, as well as the significant acclaim the Spain captain has received after being named the best player at the World Cup.

Those factors have led Al-Khelaifi to view the Manchester City midfielder as an ideal opportunity to deliver a symbolic response to Real Madrid in the transfer market.

Rodri prioritises return to La Liga

Despite Paris St-Germain entering the picture, Rodri is still thought to see a return to La Liga as his main objective.

The midfielder is currently on his summer break, waiting for clarity over his future at a time when there is ongoing uncertainty around his situation, particularly with only one year remaining on his Manchester City contract.

At the same time, Rodri has repeatedly stressed in his public comments that he holds Manchester City in high regard, while new City head coach Enzo Maresca has made clear he wants the Spaniard to stay, describing him as a central pillar of his tactical plans.

From the club’s side, Manchester City have not altered their stance on Rodri’s future. The Premier League champions are said to be insistent that they have not received any formal offer for the midfielder and continue to regard him as indispensable for the coming period.

Real Madrid watching developments

Real Madrid, meanwhile, are monitoring the situation from a distance and have not, at this stage, adjusted their own transfer strategy. Their squad planning remains open until the transfer window closes.

Current indications suggest that a move for Rodri could come into play for Real Madrid only if there is a departure from their midfield in the weeks ahead. That scenario has not materialised so far and remains only a possibility, rather than an active plan.

For now, PSG’s interest, City’s reluctance to sell and Real Madrid’s wait-and-see approach mean Rodri’s future sits at the intersection of three major clubs’ strategies – with Diomande’s last-minute switch to the Bernabeu having reignited the rivalry between Paris and Madrid in the transfer market.