Rodri spoke during the international break about his interest in perhaps playing for Real Madrid one day, sparking debate over his Manchester City future.

Rodri fanned the flames of a potential Manchester City transfer exit during the international break when he gave an interview in Spain about being open to the prospect of one day playing for Real Madrid.

The midfielder has 18 months to run on his current City deal and there remains a degree of uncertainty as to whether he will extend his stay at the Etihad. Pep Guardiola was asked about the situation in his press conference on Friday and reiterated the club stance is that they want the 29-year-old to commit his future to the Blues.

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The decision will come down to Rodri himself, with City never a club to stand in the way of a player who wants to leave. And it all adds up to an unknown situation that will need to be resolved soon.

So what exactly does it all mean for City and Rodri? Our City experts Simon Bajkowski and Alex James dissected the topic on the latest Talking City podcast.

“I don’t think Rodri’s comments change anything in that Real Madrid will still want him as they have wanted him for ages,” said Bajkowski. “And Rodri will be fully aware of that and will never in an interview shut the door on a return to Spain, ahead of a World Cup in the summer as well when he is going to be representing Spain.

“At the same time, he is in an uncertain position because nobody is sure whether he is going to renew at City or not.

“I think it (a scenario where he is sold in the summer) exists. They have to be open to it. Obviously Rodri doesn’t owe them anything but I think the club feel that they gave him such support first and foremost for the Ballon d’Or. They treated him like an absolute king at a time when the biggest club in the world (Real Madrid) was doing everything to denigrate it and say it wasn’t a proper Ballon d’Or. City treated Rodri royally. And also through his injury, they have helped and supported him. I feel like this season they have listened to Rodri (on his fitness).

“If he wants to go this summer he will go but if he does, the club would like to think they would get a fee that reflects the player that he is and will be next season and beyond, but also the support that they have given him over the last few years.”

The decision could also hinge on what happens with the future of Guardiola, who has a deal until the summer of 2027 but has yet to fully commit to continuing past this season, and Bernardo Silva who is set to depart when his contract expires in June.

“Losing Bernardo Silva and Rodri, and I appreciate they are not what they were and might not be again, but that would be a vacuum of talent, experience, know-how, experience and leadership,” said City writer James. “Loads of things that are very difficult to replace.

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“They would have to go and sign somebody, and they may well go and sign Elliot Anderson and they might sign someone else instead or as well, but it would be a big gamble to lose Rodri and Bernardo in the same summer.

“Rodri has started to look back to somewhere near his best. He looks back in a rhythm, is dictating play a bit more. And a lot of this will have to do with Pep, that has to be factored in and there might be an answer on that yet.”

Mikel Arteta insisted he is ready to throw Kepa Arrizabalaga back into the firing line for Arsenal’s FA Cup quarter-final against Southampton.

Kepa gifted Manchester City their opening goal in Arsenal’s 2-0 Carabao Cup final defeat a fortnight ago.

The 31-year-old has not played at all in the Premier League this season, with appearances only in the Carabao and FA Cups and a Champions League dead rubber against Kairat.

But despite Kepa’s howler against City, Arteta looks set to stick with the former Chelsea man for the Gunners’ visit to St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday night.

Kepa has played every minute of Arsenal’s FA Cup campaign so far.

“He is ready to play,” said Arteta. “I’m never going to judge a player or make a decision because he has made an error. Attitude, behaviour, yes, 100 per cent, but an error is part of football, and anybody can do it.

“I don’t know if he needed it (an arm around the shoulder), but he has had it. Just in case. From all of them. From his team-mates first, then myself, all the staff, and hopefully all our supporters.

“I don’t think he needed it because he’s got so much experience, and he’s been through all kinds of different scenarios in his career, so he’s more than ready to play.”

Arsenal’s quadruple dreams were dashed by the disappointing 2-0 loss to Pep Guardiola’s side.

However, the Gunners are still nine points clear in the Premier League title race and they will face Sky Bet Championship side Southampton bidding to secure a place in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

Arteta’s outfit also travel to Sporting Lisbon for the first leg of their Champions League last-eight match next week.

The defeat at Wembley raised serious questions about the club’s big-game mentality and left Arteta still awaiting his first trophy in nearly six years.

Reflecting on the sobering defeat, the Spaniard said: “It’s like a ball of poison that you have in your tummy. But take that out as quick as possible, and how can I use that to make myself better, to make the team better?

“It’s not going to go in the next 30 years because when you have the opportunity to win a final in Wembley, you have to get it done.

“So that has to stay there. And that’s part of who you’re going to be in the next few weeks, in the next few months, in the next few years. Learn from that and make sure that that fire is still in Wembley, remembering what happened.

“That has been the mindset and the only work that we have done in the last few days, to use that as fuel, as tools, to be able to get the final push that we want and achieve what we want. And immediately, I could sense that (from the players).

“It will make us better and now we have to use it for the most important and beautiful part of the season.”

Gujarat Titans (GT) wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler has backed young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to dominate the sport for the next decade, stating that “the world would be at his feet.” In a freewheeling chat with Sooryavanshi and Rajasthan Royals (RR) team manager Romy Bhinder, Buttler expressed his awe for the 15-year-old prodigy. Buttler also recalled Sooryavanshi’s record-breaking 175 off 80 balls in the U19 World Cup final, noting that the youngster “broke English hearts” with his spectacular knock in Harare.

“I said don’t get him too excited. I said the best player I’ve ever seen. Imagine when he is 21 or 25, world at his feet. So good to watch. You broke English hearts in the U19 World Cup. It’s awesome,” said Buttler in a video shared by RR.

Sooryavanshi was seen smiling as Buttler praised him, and the two shared a warm handshake.

Two generations of the Royals pic.twitter.com/d8y76RbGaT

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) April 3, 2026

The former RR player urged Sooryavanshi to keep up the hard work.

“Playing so well, great to watch, keep it up. That freedom is so good to watch,” he added.

During the chat, RR manager revealed that Sooryavanshi once expressed his wish to win trophies like Buttler.

Sooryavanshi, the youngest centurion in IPL history, started the new season with a 17-ball 52 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a winning cause.

Buttler, on the other hand, made a scratchy 33-ball 38 during the campaign opener against Punjab Kings.

He will be eyeing a return to his dominant best against RR, his former franchise.

Last season, Buttler made 538 runs in 13 innings in his debut with GT after a long run with RR from 2018-24. These runs came at an average of 59.77 and a strike rate of over 163, with five fifties. In 122 IPL matches and 120 innings, he has made 4,158 runs at an average of 39.98 and a strike rate of almost 149, with seven tons and 24 fifties and a best score of 124.

(With ANI Inputs)

The Manchester United youngster was among several to send their messages of support after a new deal was announced for Jaydan Kamason

Kai Rooney was among the Manchester United starlets to send their messages of support to youngster Jaydan Kamason after he signed a new contract until the summer of 2028, with the option of a further year. Last season, the full-back was part of a strong Under-18 squad and was included on the bench under Ruben Amorim in both the home and away matches of the Europa League quarter-final and semi-final.

The 19-year-old has missed parts of the current campaign through injury, but has still managed 15 appearances for the Under-21s. United signed Kamason from grassroots outfit Stockport Vikings for the Emerging Talent Programme (ETP) aged 10 and became the first player from that scheme to put pen to paper on a professional deal with the club.

After signing a new deal, Kamson took to social media and said: “Proud moment for me and family to sign a new long-term contract at this special club. We thank God and keep pushing. More to come, just a matter of timing.”

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Several Manchester United youth stars were quick to off their support, with Kai Rooney attaching a video of a man applauding.

Jack Fletcher responded with a fire emoji, while his brother Tyler Fletcher sent a red loveheart emoji. Fellow United prospect Chido Obi commented with a laughing and flames emoji.

Jacob Devaney and Habeeb Ogunneye both commented: “Congrats bro [loveheart emoji].”

Fomer Man United youngster Joe Hugill commented: “Nice u [applauding emoji].”

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U21s head coach Adam Lawrence heaped praise on Kamason after his goal against Arsenal in the FA Youth Cup last season. He said: “Jaydan has been in real good form of late, so he’s in that position where he’s put in some real strong and consistent performances, as you’d expect from a second year U18 player here.

“He’s in a real good space. He’s such a fantastic kid, he’s got real good athleticism and he likes to get forward on the outside. And listen, he’ll be watching that goal back for a while.

“He’s always been a full-back that has liked to get forward and he can wear people down, he’s wiry, he’s very athletic and can get on top of people and really impact the game in the final third.

“We’re really excited about him and think that he has real big potential, but he’s a humble kid and he’ll know he needs to get better and that he’s got things to work on.”

Stefanos Tsitsipas recently reacted to the brutal criticism that has been meted out to him by his ex-coach Goran Ivanisevic. Responding to the Croatian, the World No.49 stated that he had been ‘really hurt’ by his comments.

Tsitsipas and Ivanisevic began working together in May 2025, after the Greek star fired his father. However, their partnership was short lived and they parted ways only two months later after a series of uninspiring results. After their split, Ivanisevic publicly criticised Tsitsipas, telling SportKlub

“He has to find a solution for his back issue. I was shocked. I’ve never seen such a poorly prepared player in my life. Me, at my age and with this bad knee, I’m three times in better shape than him.”

More recently, Ivanisevic doubled down on his criticisms about Stefanos Tsitsipas. Reacting to the Croatian’s harsh words, the former World No.3 told The Times,

“If it was a way of him pushing me into working harder and getting my s— together, it was definitely not the right tactic. I was really hurt. I never expected that a coach could do that to me, and the worst thing is what he said was not true. I was not fit because I had been injured. I hadn’t been practising properly for over two weeks. It was like he kicked me when I was already down.”

Since parting ways with Goran Ivanisevic, Tsitsipas has paired up with his father Apostolos once again.

Stefanos Tsitsipas set to begin Monte-Carlo Masters campaign against Francisco Cerundolo

Stefanos Tsitsipas spent the latter half of his 2025 season on the bench as he struggled with a back injury. The Greek star returned to action earlier this year with the Adelaide International, but he has failed to string together consistent wins.

His best result this season has been a quarterfinals finish he accomplished at the Qatar Open. Except for that impressive outing in Doha and a round of 32 appearance at the Miami Open, the 27-year-old has failed to move past the second round in any tournament, including the Australian Open and Indian Wells.

Now, Stefanos Tsitsipas is scheduled to kick off his clay season at the Monte-Carlo Masters. The event takes place between April 5 and April 13 at the Monte-Carlo Country Club and promises some exciting tennis action. Tsitsipas will begin his campaign at the ATP 1000 event against 16th seed Francisco Cerundolo.