Real Madrid has just rejected a €100 million offer from Manchester City for Rodrygo. The Spanish giants are aiming to propose a swap deal involving Rodrygo and Erling Haaland. However, Manchester City’s response took Real Madrid’s board completely by surprise…

In a summer transfer window already filled with surprising twists, Real Madrid has stirred the football world once again. The Spanish giants have reportedly rejected a stunning €100 million bid from Manchester City for Brazilian forward Rodrygo Goes, showing no signs of backing down when it comes to protecting one of their emerging stars.

But the story didn’t end there. According to sources close to the Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid wasn’t just saying “no.” They had a bold counteroffer in mind—one that left Manchester City’s top hierarchy visibly shocked. Real Madrid proposed a direct player swap: Rodrygo for Erling Haaland.

Yes, you read that right. The club that once boasted Cristiano Ronaldo now dreams of pairing Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland together to form what could arguably be the deadliest attacking duo in modern football. The Rodrygo-for-Haaland swap wasn’t a joke—it was a calculated pitch backed by Real’s long-term strategy and sporting ambition.

Rodrygo, still only 24, has been a consistent presence under Carlo Ancelotti. However, with Mbappé’s arrival already reshaping the frontline, his guaranteed place in the starting XI has come under threat. The club sees him as both an asset for the future and a potential key to unlocking bigger dreams—namely, bringing Haaland to Spain.

President Florentino Pérez has reportedly long admired Haaland and sees the Norwegian as the ultimate successor to Karim Benzema. Although Benzema departed for Saudi Arabia last season, Madrid still lacks a pure No. 9 of Haaland’s caliber. Rodrygo, as valuable as he is, may be expendable in the club’s vision of building a new Galáctico era.

But Manchester City were not having it.

According to British press outlets, the English champions responded firmly and quickly: “Haaland is not for sale under any circumstances.” The club values the Norwegian striker as their future—possibly even more important than Kevin De Bruyne or any other squad member. Sources close to manager Pep Guardiola say he was irritated by the audacity of Madrid’s offer.

Guardiola considers Haaland untouchable, regardless of the money involved. Even if Madrid had included Rodrygo plus a nine-figure fee, City made it crystal clear: there would be no discussion. The idea of parting with the man who scored over 50 goals in his debut season was completely off the table.

This rejection reportedly caught Real Madrid’s board off guard. The club had anticipated some resistance—but not a categorical shutdown. Behind the scenes, some Madrid directors were hopeful that Haaland’s camp might entertain the idea of a future move to Spain, especially given Haaland’s well-documented admiration for La Liga.

In Manchester, however, the proposal is being viewed with suspicion. City executives believe that Madrid may be trying to unsettle their star player ahead of another high-profile UEFA Champions League campaign. If this was a tactical move to plant seeds of doubt in Haaland’s mind, City are now doubling down on making him feel like the centerpiece of their project.

As of now, Rodrygo remains committed to Madrid, already in full preseason training. Publicly, the player hasn’t commented on the transfer drama, but those close to him say he remains calm and focused. Still, in the volatile world of modern football, things can shift overnight.

Will Real Madrid regroup and return with an even more tempting proposal? Will they turn to another world-class striker instead? Or will this public rejection spark an internal reassessment of their transfer priorities?

What’s clear is this: Madrid dreams big, and they’re not afraid to push boundaries to get what they want. But this time, they’ve hit a wall—one built by Manchester City and guarded fiercely by Guardiola and the Etihad board.

As the transfer window continues, all eyes will remain on the next move from both sides. If there’s one thing we’ve learned from Real Madrid’s history, it’s that they don’t give up easily. And as for Haaland, the saga surrounding his future may have just begun.