Real Madrid’s Pursuit of Rodri
Real Madrid are reportedly confident in their efforts to sign Manchester City midfielder Rodri. The Spanish club is working on a deal for the Spain captain, with an agreement believed to be reachable. Despite these reports, Manchester City still hopes the 30-year-old midfielder will remain with them, regardless of whether a new contract is signed. Rodri’s current contract is set to expire in 12 months.
Rodri joined Manchester City in 2019 from Atletico Madrid. During his time with City, he has contributed to the team winning four Premier League titles, the UEFA Champions League, Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, Community Shield, three EFL Cups, and two FA Cups. He also helped Spain secure the World Cup, where he was awarded the Golden Ball.
Maresca Addresses Speculation
Enzo Maresca, the new manager for Manchester City, addressed the transfer speculation surrounding Rodri during his first press conference. Maresca stated that speculation is common around prominent players and that he is not concerned by it. He noted that any manager would desire a player of Rodri’s caliber.
Maresca also confirmed that Rodri is scheduled to undergo surgery for a back issue on Monday. Following the procedure, Rodri will require a period of rest and recuperation. The manager did not provide a specific timeline for Rodri’s return to the squad. Maresca also mentioned that other players are expected to rejoin the squad a few days before City’s Community Shield match against Premier League champions Arsenal on Sunday, 16 August.
Potential Impact on Other Transfers
The potential transfer of Rodri to Real Madrid could influence other transfer activities, particularly for Manchester United. United has reportedly identified France international midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni as a key target. Tchouameni, who played a significant role in France’s journey to the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-finals, could become available if Real Madrid seeks to fund the move for Rodri. While reports earlier this month suggested Tchouameni had agreed to a new contract with Madrid until 2031, no official announcement has been made, leading to speculation about his future.
Meanwhile, Arsenal is reportedly considering a player-plus-cash deal for Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, which could involve Sweden forward Viktor Gyokeres moving to the La Liga club. Roma is also said to be interested in signing Norway winger Oscar Bobb from Fulham. Additionally, Newcastle’s Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes remains a primary target for Arsenal, with reports indicating Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is willing to pay up to £90m for the player, though Newcastle is expected to reject an offer of £70m. Manchester United is not looking to sell captain Bruno Fernandes despite speculation linking him with a move away from Old Trafford.
Chelsea is expected to meet with Como on Saturday regarding the signing of England defender Trevoh Chalobah, who will not be allowed to leave for less than £30m. Chelsea has also submitted an initial offer for Bayer Leverkusen’s Bosnia-Herzegovina winger Kerim Alajbegovic. Arsenal and Hamburg are in discussions concerning Portugal midfielder Fabio Vieira, who wishes to join the Bundesliga club after a loan spell there last season. England striker Marcus Rashford has been invited to participate in a Manchester United documentary by Amazon.
Source: bbc.co.uk
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