Rodri 'should be playing for Real Madrid', says presidential candidate Riquelme

Rodri is the type of player that should be playing for Real Madrid, says presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme amid rumours linking the midfielder to Los Blancos.

The Manchester City midfielder, who was signed in 2019 from Atletico Madrid, has been a huge success during the Pep Guardiola era. 

Rodri has won 13 major honours with City, including four Premier League titles, as well as scoring the winning goal in their first Champions League triumph three years ago. 

He also scooped the Ballon d'Or in 2024, having helped Spain win the European Championships, though an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury two years ago has seen him struggle to get back to those levels.

But in 2025-26, Rodri made 37 appearances in all competitions, starting 27 of those games, with only Bernardo Silva (2,757) and Mathues Nunes (2,848) completing more passes for City last season than his 2,394. 

Guardiola, along with Silva and John Stones, all brought the curtain down on their glittering City careers last Sunday, and reports have suggested that Rodri could follow the trio through the exit door, with Madrid a potential destination. 

Riquelme has claimed that he has verbal agreements with two international stars if he wins the election and even said that one of them will play at the World Cup with Spain.

The 37-year-old refused to say that one of those was Rodri, though he reaffirmed his affirmation for the player. 

"I love that player, he's a fantastic player and the profile of player Real Madrid should have and who should be playing for the club," Riquelme told ESPN.

"But obviously he's at another club, and we have to respect that. He is the type of player who should be playing for Real Madrid. But we'll talk about that from Saturday onwards."

Riquelme is in the midst of his campaign for the Madrid presidency, with the elections taking place on June 7. 

The position has been held by Florentino Perez since 2009, which is his second stint with the club, having also been elected back in 2000. 

Perez's success 26 years ago was down to his promise to lure Luis Figo away from Clasico rivals Barcelona, and he was able to do so with a world-record transfer fee. 

When asked if he was also preparing a signing of that level, Riquelme replied: "Some of the players I have agreements with are deal-breakers, without a doubt.

"People should pay attention because they are going to please and excite the fans."

It looks set to be a busy summer for Madrid, who are also on the hunt for a new head coach after Alvaro Arbeloa stepped down at the end of last season. 

Jose Mourinho, who previously worked with Perez from 2010 to 2013, is reportedly set for a sensational return to the club if the current president stays on.

Regarding his preferred choice of coach, Riquelme offered the following clues, without revealing the coach's country of origin: "We have a coach signed.

"Let's not talk about nationality, let's talk about experience. We're not going to experiment.

"We will bring in a proven coach and technical staff, who have never coached Real Madrid before, and I'm sure Real Madrid will be very excited to have them here."