Real Madrid expected to bid for Manchester City midfielder Rodri
Real Madrid is reportedly preparing an offer for Manchester City midfielder Rodri. The Spanish club is believed to have initiated contact with Manchester City regarding the acquisition of the Spain international. Reports suggest Real Madrid might be willing to pay between £43m and £51m (€50m-€60m) for the player, who has one year remaining on his contract.
Despite Real Madrid‘s interest, Manchester City is not looking to sell Rodri. Instead, the club aims to secure a new long-term contract with the midfielder. Rodri recently underwent back surgery on Monday and is currently in recovery. This recovery period is expected to lead to him missing the Community Shield and the opening Premier League fixture of the season.
City’s midfield plans
Manchester City reportedly intends for Rodri to be a key figure in the team under the new era led by Enzo Maresca. However, Real Madrid is now poised to make a formal move. The re-election of Florentino Perez as Real Madrid president reportedly brought criticism regarding the club’s representation in the Spain national team.
Real Madrid has already signed Marc Cucurella from Chelsea this summer, and there is a belief within the club that a move for Rodri is the next priority. Meanwhile, Manchester City is understood to be progressing with a deal for Lille and Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Pundits have weighed in on the potential transfer. One perspective suggests that selling Rodri for £40m-£50m would not be beneficial for Manchester City. It is argued that keeping him for an additional year, even if he were to leave on a free transfer later, would be preferable given his importance to the team.
Rodri‘s performance in the World Cup was highlighted as a return to his best form. His contributions, along with those of Bernardo Silva, were seen as instrumental in Manchester City‘s pursuit of the title in the latter half of the season. The midfielder is considered by some to be among the best in his position in the Premier League and potentially in world football.
Impact of Rodri’s potential departure
The importance of Rodri to Manchester City‘s strategy has been noted. His ability to control games and set the team’s tempo is considered significant. It has been observed that Manchester City struggled to retain their Premier League title in seasons when Rodri experienced injury issues.
While replacing a player of Rodri‘s calibre is seen as challenging, Manchester City has brought in Elliot Anderson, who is viewed as a potential successor. Anderson, a box-to-box midfielder, is putting up numbers that suggest he could develop into a comparable player, even if he is not yet the same type of dictator on the field as Rodri.
The acquisition of Elliot Anderson is also seen by some as a replacement for Bernardo Silva, who has reportedly moved to Real Madrid. The potential departure of Rodri would create a significant void that would be difficult for Manchester City to fill.
Manchester City initially paid £60m for Rodri. If they were to receive £40m back now, it is suggested that the funds might not be sufficient to acquire a player of similar impact. Real Madrid is expected to make their bid for Rodri after a meeting scheduled for Thursday.
Source: bbc.com
