Rodri
Real Madrid have taken a firm step to sign Manchester City‘s Rodri this summer.
Over the past few years, there have been regular claims of the La Liga side’s interest, but nothing came of it. These links have reemerged in recent months and have intensified in the past few weeks.
The Manchester City star’s injury in 2024 was a genuine concern for Los Blancos. That’s no longer the case after he starred in Spain’s World Cup success. Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez was originally opposing his signing.
Two days ago, Sport Witness covered claims from Spain that Pérez has given the green light. Manchester City have also accepted he could leave in this window.
The midfielder’s deal expires in 2027, and Manchester City haven’t succeeded in attempts to renew his contract.
Manchester City star on front page
The World Cup winner is on the front page of Thursday’s AS, with ‘Rodri D-Day’ written in bold. The title reads: ‘Rodri and Real Madrid, a 24-hour solution’.
He is doing everything possible to join José Mourinho’s side, and the manager is also keen on signing him. The 30-year-old has already shown this by rejecting other clubs like Paris Saint-Germain.
The Manchester City star’s World Cup form dispelled the Spanish club’s doubts about his fitness.
The newspaper claims Real Madrid have a genuine interest and have scheduled a meeting today. A deal could be finalised after this.
AS states: ‘An agreement with the player is not an issue, but now everything is in the open dialogue phase with the English club, which, understandably, will not let a player with Rodri’s demonstrated potential leave for free.’
The Spanish giants are likely to move forward and are confident of closing the deal with Enzo Maresca’s side for around €40-50m.
Real Madrid make verbal offer
Cadena Ser claims the Madrid club have accelerated by making a €50m verbal offer to Manchester City.
They immediately state: ‘While the details are still being finalised, the financial aspect is not expected to be an obstacle.’
This shows Real Madrid’s optimism of an agreement with the Premier League side, and Cadena Ser journalist Antón Meana also reports on this.
“The second [first was about his fitness] issue, the price, is what they are considering now. We have to see what City is asking for. But if Rodri is fit and comes in as a bargain, Real Madrid was going to go for him, as we’ve been reporting since December,” he said.
“I can’t imagine at this point that Rodri won’t be playing for Real Madrid next year.”