Man City set €75 million price tag for Real Madrid target as formal talks begin | OneFootball

According to journalist Patrick Berger of Sky Germany, Real Madrid and Manchester City have officially entered direct club-to-club talks to negotiate the transfer of midfielder Rodri.

The 30-year-old Spain international has become a primary target for Los Blancos, with both teams now actively working to find a financial agreement before the close of the summer transfer window.

Direct club talks and pricing gaps

The transfer process has moved past preliminary inquiries into active, high-level negotiations.

Manchester City have set a firm asking price of €75 million for their midfield anchor. While the English heavyweights would ideally prefer to keep the player, they are aware of his contract situation and are ready to sell if a club meets their valuation.

Future teammates? (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Real Madrid, under the guidance of president Florentino Perez, are very keen to complete the signing and have made it clear they are ready to spend more than their initial €50 million baseline estimation.

Talks are underway as Real Madrid are currently trying to bring the final fee down toward a middle ground, using the player’s short contract duration as leverage, with the club keen on closing the deal at the earliest.

Rodri’s desire to return home

A major factor driving these active negotiations is the personal stance of the midfielder himself. Rodri is highly keen on securing a move to Real Madrid this summer.

The midfielder and his close family have deep roots in the Spanish capital, and he has consistently viewed a return to his hometown as the ideal next step for his football career.

Rodri wants to return to Spain. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

This clear personal preference has given Real Madrid significant confidence during the ongoing talks. In fact, it has been reported that the Merengues already have agreed personal terms with the midfielder.

Head coach Jose Mourinho is also fully supportive of the operation, viewing the World Cup Golden Ball winner as the perfect player to bring balance and experience to his midfield.

Direct talks between the clubs are set to continue as they look to finalise the exact payment structure and resolve the current valuation gap.