Manchester City are now planning to make a move for Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior if he becomes available, amid tension with manager Xabi Alonso.
Rodri might have something to say about Man City making a move for Vinicius, given what happened back in 2024, with the Real Madrid forward refusing to attend the Ballon d'Or ceremony after finding out the Spanish midfielder was set to win the award.
Paris Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembele went on to win the prestigious award for the first time this year, with the Brazilian missing out again, but he remains in the top 10 of the Ballon d'Or power rankings for 2026, with two City stars also in the top 20.
After the controversy that unfolded, City fans unveiled a banner mocking the Madrid forward using Oasis lyrics ahead of a Champions League tie against the Spanish side last season.
Man City planning to make move for Vinicius Junior
Despite the fallout after the 2024 Ballon d'Or, a report from Spain has now revealed that Man City intend to make a move for Vinicius if he becomes available, amid rumours of tension with Real Madrid manager Alonso.
A number of elite clubs are closely monitoring the situation, including Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Manchester United and Bayern Munich, with the winger yet to put pen to paper on a new contract to extend his stay at the La Liga club beyond 2027.
However, it could take a huge bid to get a deal over the line, with reports from elsewhere revealing Madrid are expected to demand €250m (£220m) to sanction a departure.
vinicius-real-madrid
Lauded as "the best player in the world" by Real Madrid columnist Kiyan Sobhani, the Brazil international has been one of the driving forces behind his side's fantastic start to the season, having won nine of their opening ten La Liga matches.
Indeed, the 25-year-old has featured in every game, chipping in with nine goal contributions, but he stole the headlines for different reasons in the El Clasico last time out, having engaged in a heated exchange with Alonso after being substituted.
The most recent outburst, coupled with his reaction to being snubbed, suggests the Rio de Janeiro-born forward may cause problems behind-the-scenes for Pep Guardiola, but there can be no denying he is a top player, excelling across several key metrics over the past year.
Statistic Average per 90
Non-penalty goals 0.41 (89th percentile)
Assists 0.29 (83rd percentile)
Progressive carries 7.36 (99th percentile)
Successful take-ons 3.0 (97th percentile)
That said, £220m would be a huge fee to shell out on any player, so it may be worth waiting another year to see if Vinicius' price-tag drops towards the end of his contract.
Vinicius Junior has been named as one of the best wingers in the world