Earlier today we covered claims from Spain’s Cadena Ser that several clubs remain interest in Atletico’s Rodri and that ‘he will leave’ in the next window.
Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Barcelona were named as those clubs.
Given Barca have already signed Frenkie de Jong, and are thought to be close to deals for Matthijs de Ligt and Antoine Griezmann, it would be a stretch to think they could also afford Rodri this summer.
Over in Germany, there’s not been a big surge of reporting on Bayern interest, or any at all recently, so it’s Manchester City which looks the likeliest right now.
AS, who have good Atletico connections, report there’s ‘suspicions’ at the club that Rodri could soon go, with Manchester City and Bayern the named options. Pep Guardiola’s side are described as being ‘the most interested’.
It’s not thought Rodri would be a huge loss to Atleti, with it being pointed out Diego Simeone has asked for more from the player defensively… but then the manager often does.
The transfer ‘would not be something dramatic’ and the Madrid club’s director of football, Andrea Berta, ‘manages half a dozen options for the position’.
This very much sounds like AS preparing their Atletico readers for an exit. Another exit.
Just like with Griezmann, Atletico want to know Rodri’s intentions very quickly. So if that’s to join Manchester City for his €70m clause, then the midfielder could soon found himself wheeled out in front of a camera, looking slightly like a hostage, forced to say goodbye… just like the Frenchman was yesterday.
