Ammon News - Spain midfielder Rodri said he is focused on the World Cup and will only address his future at Manchester City after the ​tournament.

The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner is entering the final year ‌of his contract with the Premier League club and has been linked with a move to Real Madrid.

"Well, I’m trying not to make too much of it, ​but it is part of my job, especially when a player ​has been nearing the end of his contract for some ⁠time – it’s only natural that names come up," the 29-year-old told ​reporters on Monday.

"But anyway, I’m very calm, I know exactly where I ​stand, and yes probably if there hadn’t been a World Cup, I might be in a different situation now but with a World Cup on the horizon, ​my responsibility is to stay focused.
"We're here to talk about the World ​Cup and everything that concerns my future, I'll wait until the end of the ‌World ⁠Cup."

European champions Spain will face Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group H at the June 11 to July 19 tournament in North America.

Rodri said he had urged his Spain teammates to follow tennis ​great Rafa Nadal's example ​after watching ⁠a documentary about the 22-times Grand Slam champion.

"What I told them is that we need to try to ​play without the ball like a small team. With ​that mindset ⁠of not thinking you’re the best," he added.

"I was just watching the documentary on Nadal and he was always talking about that – always one ⁠more ball, ​one more effort. And that’s what the ​great champions do and, above all, bringing out all the talent this team has, which ​is very big."

Reuters