Manchester City have a vital final three weeks of the season coming up with a potential domestic treble on the line.
Pep Guardiola’s side have already lifted the Carabao Cup this campaign but are still in the hunt for both the Premier League and FA Cup. The Citizens are five points behind league leaders Arsenal but have a game in hand while they will face Chelsea in the FA Cup final later this month.
City are already one of football’s powerhouses in Europe but a second treble under Guardiola would only reinforce that going into what looks to be yet another important summer transfer window at the Etihad Stadium.
Man City have big Rodri decision to make
Rodri
This season has been one of transition for City with a number of new players settling in at the Etihad. Additionally, it has already been confirmed that long-term servants John Stones and Bernardo Silva will be leaving the club at the end of this season.
Another stalwart for the Citizens whose future is unclear beyond this season is Rodri. The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner has made 31 appearances across all competitions in his first full campaign back after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament rupture early into the 2024/25 season.
At 29, the midfielder has one year left on his contract and has had a few injury concerns this term, missing City’s last three matches. There has also been discussion around a potential move to Real Madrid.
Back in March, the Spaniard was asked about a potential move to Los Blancos, to which he responded: “You cannot refuse the best clubs in the world. Real Madrid is not a closed door for me.”
Rodri has just one year left on his contract at Manchester City and this summer is likely to be the only time City can cash in on him before they lose him for free.
And Pep Guardiola has already admitted he would not stand in the Spaniard's way if he wanted to make the move. Speaking last month, he said: "There is not one player that will turn down the chance to play for Madrid, he was born in Spain.
"The organisation of the club is above all of us. If one player is not happy they have to leave. Continue the same always if they are happy, and I think he is happy. If he is not happy just knock on the door of the sporting director, accept an offer according to his incredible quality and after that he doesn't belong to the club - only himself."
Valverde could be an ideal Rodri replacement
Federico Valverde
Federico Valverde
If Rodri is to swap the Etihad with the Bernabeu this summer, City may not have to look far to find the ideal replacement.
Federico Valverde has become one of the best midfielders in Europe in recent years and has made 48 appearances this term, scoring nine goals and registering 13 assists.
At 27, the Uruguayan isn’t considerably younger than Rodri but would undoubtedly be capable of replacing the Spaniard’s considerable presence in the middle of the park, having held the captain’s armband for the majority of Real’s matches this season.
Prior to Uruguay’s 1-1 friendly draw with England in March, national team teammate Guille Varela said that it was “not normal what he is doing”.
Valverde has been in the spotlight this week after reports emerged that he had an altercation in training with teammate Aurelien Tchouameni which has led to a head injury that has subsequently ruled the midfielder out of this weekend’s El Clasico.
It is currently not expected that the bust-up will lead to the midfielder seeking an exit from the Bernabeu this summer, but it may offer City an opportunity to ask the question as to whether a transfer might be possible this summer.
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