Real Madrid News
Real Madrid preparing blockbuster Manchester City raid if Pep Guardiola leaves – report
The possibility of Pep Guardiola leaving Manchester City at the end of the season is beginning to create serious movement across Europe, and Real Madrid are watching the situation very carefully.
According to fresh reports from SPORT, the Spanish giants believe Guardiola’s departure could trigger major instability within the Manchester City dressing room.
This means several key players could begin to reconsider their futures if the long-serving manager walks away, and Real Madrid are preparing to position themselves to take advantage.
Rodri is the top target
One of the names attracting the most attention at the Santiago Bernabeu is Rodri.
The midfielder remains highly admired within Real Madrid, and the fact that the Spaniard wants to return to La Liga in the future has only increased excitement around the possibility.
Rodri’s current deal has just one year remaining, although no formal talks have started yet.
Much could depend on the expected arrival of Jose Mourinho, who could play a decisive role in shaping Madrid’s transfer plans this summer.
Haaland and other City midfielders
Another major name linked with Real Madrid is Erling Haaland.
The Norwegian striker continues to be viewed as one of the most dangerous forwards in world football, but any potential move appears extremely complicated.
This is because the biggest issue is squad balance. Reports suggest that Haaland would only become a realistic option if either Vinicius Jr. or Kylian Mbappe were to leave the club.
Financially, the operation would also be enormous due to Haaland’s long-term contract and massive valuation.
Real Madrid are also believed to admire Bernardo Silva and Tijjani Reijnders. Bernardo’s situation could be particularly interesting because his contract situation makes him a more affordable opportunity compared to other City stars.
Reijnders, meanwhile, remains appreciated for his technical qualities and versatility in midfield despite a season that has not been fully convincing.
Then there is Gvardiol
In defence, Josko Gvardiol is another player being closely monitored.
The Croatian defender fits many of the profiles Real Madrid are searching for, especially because of his ability to operate both centrally and at left-back.
If Guardiola does decide to leave Manchester City, opportunities to sign top players from a dominant European side will appear and Real Madrid know how to take advantage.
After three successive wins to start the season, a 1-0 loss to Real Betis came as a reality check for Real Madrid, who are still some way off matching the quality and consistency of Barcelona.
In light of the defeat, the Real Madrid coaching staff is analysing the best way to get the most out of the current setup.
More expected from Valverde
According to Defensa Central, one of the key conclusions drawn from the Betis defeat is that Real Madrid need greater involvement from Federico Valverde with the ball.
The Uruguayan has been deployed as the pivot, largely due to the absence of the injured Aurelien Tchouameni, but he is yet to make the step up in quality the team requires from that role.
While his effort and commitment are never in doubt, Mourinho and his staff, led by Sami Khedira, feel Valverde spends too much time positioned behind the opposition’s midfield line.
As a result, he fails to offer passing lanes to his teammates when they are under pressure, forcing them into hurried, aimless clearances rather than playing out cleanly from the back.
That concern has already been communicated to Valverde, who is still adapting to a position he has never truly played, making the challenge all the more difficult for him.
A collective issue to fix
However, the problem is not Valverde’s alone, with the coaching staff identifying a wider issue in the team’s structure.
Khedira has reportedly noted a certain passivity from the attackers in the videos of the match, particularly Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe, when it comes to offering themselves as the ball transitions from midfield into attacking areas.
That lack of movement compounds the difficulties for the deeper midfielders.
Mourinho, for his part, remains unfazed by the departure of Rodri to Barcelona, insisting his squad has the tools to cope.
“I’m not missing Rodri. We have solutions, we have quality,” the Portuguese said, before adding that he backs his ability to improve players.
With a Champions League opener against Inter Milan on the horizon, Mourinho and his staff will be keen to iron out these issues quickly.
