Man City Faces Test as Real Madrid Prepares Rodri Bid, Potentially Triggering Chain Reaction

Manchester City's new manager, Enzo Maresca, has reportedly admitted the club faces a significant battle to retain their star midfielder Rodri, as the player is determined to join Real Madrid, according to a surprising report from the "Daily Mail." City is bracing for an offer from the Spanish giants, where support for signing the 30-year-old is growing, especially after he captained Spain to a World Cup title. Currently, there has been no official contact between the two clubs, but Rodri's contract with City expires in just one year, and he rejected a new contract offer made in April.

The player's desire is to return to Madrid for family reasons. Before joining City, he played for city rivals Atletico. It is believed that his agents met with Real representatives in Madrid's Pozuelo district earlier this week.

During his official unveiling as Pep Guardiola's successor on Friday, former Chelsea boss Maresca conceded that "every manager" would want to sign Rodri.

Should Real Madrid formalize their interest, Manchester City will demand a substantial transfer fee, but they haven't given up hope of keeping their key player. The "Citizens" have already signed Elliot Anderson and are working on an £85 million deal for Lille's young talent, Ayub Bouadi. Real's new coach, Jose Mourinho, has been brought in to address alleged dressing room divisions and is already pushing for the acquisition of experienced players. Rodri perfectly fits this profile.

Premier League clubs are on high alert, recognizing that a potential move for Rodri could trigger a domino effect. This could reduce Aurelien Tchouameni's playing time, and his compatriot Eduardo Camavinga might also consider an exit. Manchester United has long shown interest in Tchouameni but hasn't made an inquiry since May. The club is aware that the 26-year-old would be very expensive and difficult to integrate into their current wage structure. Camavinga, meanwhile, has been considered an option by City, Chelsea, and Arsenal. Despite his experience, he is still only 23 and could represent a more favorable investment, but the key question remains whether either player would actually leave Madrid.