Manchester City, under the management of Pep Guardiola, have stepped up their search for new attacking talent, tabling a substantial offer for Real Madrid`s “spectacular” star, Rodrygo. Guardiola reportedly views the Brazilian forward as the ideal high-profile addition to strengthen his frontline.
This pursuit comes as City maintains pressure at the top of the Premier League. Despite ongoing good form from existing players like Phil Foden (seven goals and two assists this campaign) and reported interest in AFC Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, City`s focus appears fixed on securing the signature of the Real Madrid man.
According to reports emerging from Spain, City submitted a formal bid worth €80 million (£70 million) for Rodrygo. However, the Spanish giants swiftly rejected the proposal. The offer was structured with an initial payment of €60 million (£52 million) and an additional €20 million (£17 million) allocated for performance-related add-ons.
Real Madrid made it clear they are seeking a flat rate of £70 million upfront for the player. While City remains determined to finalize a deal, the La Liga side is under no pressure to sell, suggesting negotiations for the transfer may prove challenging.
Rodrygo, who was previously lauded as “spectacular” by former Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, is highly sought after for good reason. The 24-year-old has been a consistent performer, recently recording two assists in Madrid`s victory against Sevilla. He also notably scored against Man City earlier this season during a Champions League clash.
Throughout his time in Spain, the winger has contributed significantly, amassing 70 goals and 55 assists across 291 appearances for Real Madrid.
Furthermore, Rodrygo possesses elite ball-carrying metrics, demonstrating exceptional dribbling ability. Over the last year, he averaged 5.79 progressive carries and 2.34 successful take-ons per 90 minutes, ranking him in the 94th and 91st percentiles respectively when compared to other attacking midfielders and wingers.
While Rodrygo certainly has the pedigree to succeed at the Etihad, missing out on the Brazilian would not necessarily be disastrous for City, given the strong existing form of Phil Foden and the progress in signing other quality targets.
Rupert Fawcett
