Real Madrid forward Rodrygo has appeared to pledge his commitment to the club with a timely social media post, which comes amid growing reports of strong personal interest from Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.
Ahead of Madrid’s only pre-season friendly of the summer against WSG Tirol on Tuesday, the Brazilian winger posted a simple but powerful message to his followers. The post, which advertised the game, was accompanied by the caption: “HALA MADRID,” along with a white heart emoji, which is being widely interpreted as a public declaration of his loyalty to the club.
This statement comes as the Spanish outlet MARCA has revealed details of Guardiola’s long-standing admiration for the player. The Manchester City boss reportedly held a lengthy phone conversation with Rodrygo and his representatives back in 2024 after their two sides met, in an attempt to convince him of a move to the Etihad.
While Rodrygo was not interested in a move at the time, his recently reduced role at Real Madrid under new manager Xabi Alonso has reportedly prompted Guardiola to “push” for a move again this summer. City are said to be creating space in their squad by offloading several attackers, with Rodrygo described as a “dream target.”
Real Madrid’s position on the 24-year-old remains nuanced. The club is happy to keep him, but according to Fabrizio Romano, they will allow him to leave if he personally requests an exit and a significant bid of around €100 million arrives.
Rodrygo’s social media message appears to be a clear response to the intense speculation, reaffirming the decision he reportedly made last week to stay and fight for his place. However, with Pep Guardiola personally pushing for his signature, the situation could still change if his playing time does not improve in the new season.