Real Madrid make first contact with Manchester City over Rodri transfer | OneFootball

Manchester City have received official contact from Real Madrid for the very first time over a potential transfer for Rodri this summer, according to reports.

The FIFA World Cup-winning captain rapidly emerged as a new target for Los Blancos off the back of his triumph in North America, winning the summer competition’s Player of the Tournament prize in the process.

With Rodri entering into the final 12 months of his existing Manchester City contract, and the player not showing any sign of wanting to commit to a new agreement, a deal appears even more of a possibility than ever before for those at Real Madrid.

City have remained hopeful about their chances of renewing Rodri to a new agreement, and have kept a lucrative new deal on the table for the player throughout the summer, with a willingness to make him one of the leading earners within the first-team squad.

Real Madrid approach Man City for Rodri

Now, according to the information of journalist Fabrizio Romano, Real Madrid have now approached Manchester City over the possibility of a transfer for defensive midfielder Rodri for the first time.

It is explained that negotiations have now started with verbal discussions between the two clubs, and Bernabeu president Florentino Pérez has given his own approval to a deal after holding back from the idea for months.

From the side of Real Madrid and a possible transfer fee, the La Liga giants are also said to have indicated that they are ready to spend over €50 million on Manchester City’s Ballon d’Or winner.

How could Man City replace Rodri?

Manchester City are still expected to be busy in various positions of their squad in the remaining weeks of the summer transfer market having only secured the £116 million services of England international Elliot Anderson.

The club have been strongly linked with interest in Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi, and are believed to be in active negotiations with the French club over the 18-year-old Moroccan starlet, as his current employers hold out for a staggering £85 million fee.

It remains to be seen what further changes in central midfield take place this summer too, that perhaps could also alter the central midfield picture should Rodri leave, with doubts continuing over the likes of Nico Gonzalez, Tijjani Reijnders, and Mateo Kovacic in particular.