Real Madrid winger, Rodrygo rejected Manchester City and several other European clubs during the summer transfer window, despite serious interest and the promise of a key role elsewhere.
The Brazilian forward, who has become a vital figure at the Santiago Bernabéu, refused to walk away from the Spanish giants, even though at one point he was reportedly very close to making the move.
Rodrygo’s name had been consistently linked with Manchester City. The Cityzens were exploring options in attack, especially as Brazilian winger Savinho was the subject of transfer speculation linking him to Tottenham Hotspur.
City saw Rodrygo as the perfect fit to reinforce Pep Guardiola’s forward line. However, while Savinho ultimately stayed at the Etihad, the likelihood of Rodrygo switching clubs diminished significantly.
The player himself was determined to continue his career at Madrid.
Mbappe & Vinicius Jr Convinced Rodrygo To Stay At Real Madrid
According to recent revelations surrounding the transfer saga, Rodrygo rejected Manchester City after being persuaded by his teammates to stay put.
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French superstar Kylian Mbappe and his Brazilian compatriot Vinicius Jr reportedly played an instrumental role in convincing him that his future remained at Real Madrid.
Both players reminded him of his growing importance to the team and assured him that he was already a central part of Madrid’s plans.
Their support is said to have had a decisive impact on Rodrygo’s mindset at a time when he was weighing up his options.
TBR Football transfer expert Graeme Bailey shed more light on the situation, stating:
“I was speaking to his camp in Madrid… I’m told that Vinicius and Mbappe, who we did a story about a few weeks ago, encouraging him to stay, played a huge part in his decision.
“His teammates really put their arms around him and said, ‘Look, you’re a massive player here. You don’t need to leave.’ He’s decided to stay until January, but we’ll need to keep an eye on his situation.”
Rodrygo’s Future At Real Madrid Remains A Talking Point
The January transfer window could bring a fresh twist. If game time becomes an issue, or if Madrid’s attacking rotation leaves Rodrygo dissatisfied, interest from City and other clubs could be reignited.
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For now, though, Madrid fans can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that one of their brightest young stars has committed his immediate future to the club.
What is clear is that Rodrygo rejected Manchester City because of a deep belief in Madrid’s project and the persuasion of those closest to him.
