Real Madrid News
Secret meeting held as Real Madrid move for World Cup winner heats up – report
Real Madrid’s interest in Rodri appears to be gathering serious momentum, with fresh reports suggesting the Spanish giants have accelerated their plans to bring the Manchester City midfielder back to La Liga.
According to journalist Patrick Berger, a confidential meeting took place on Wednesday afternoon between Real Madrid representatives and Rodri’s agents at a restaurant in Pozuelo, Madrid.
The meeting is said to mark a significant step in Real Madrid’s transfer plans, with the club now identifying the Spain international as one of their leading priorities to strengthen Jose Mourinho’s midfield.
While negotiations between the two clubs have not yet begun, the latest Real Madrid transfer news indicates that work is already underway to reach an agreement on personal terms with the player.
Real Madrid pushing with Rodri plan
The journalist claims Real Madrid are ready to offer Rodri a contract running until 2030, while the player is said to be open to returning to Spain despite still having a year left on his Man City contract.
Although City have had a renewal offer on the table for several weeks, no agreement has yet been reached, which has encouraged Real Madrid as they continue exploring a possible deal.
At Real Madrid, the club’s hierarchy has now fully approved the move, with Florentino Perez convinced that the Rodri to Real Madrid transfer is worth pursuing after initially showing reservations.
Man City and Real Madrid far apart in valuation
Despite the positive developments surrounding the player’s willingness to consider the move, reaching an agreement with Manchester City is expected to be far more complicated.
No direct talks have taken place between the two clubs, and a significant gap already exists between their respective valuations.
Manchester City are demanding around €100 million for Rodri, particularly after the midfielder further enhanced his reputation with a Golden Ball-winning campaign at the FIFA World Cup.
The Premier League champions believe his market value has never been higher and are determined to reflect that in any negotiations.
Real Madrid, however, have established a clear spending limit of €60 million and that €40 million difference is the biggest challenge currently halting the transfer.
Unless one side softens its position, negotiations could prove difficult once formal discussions eventually begin.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid weighing up January move for €70 million-rated Arsenal midfielder – report
Real Madrid’s midfield is the one department where Jose Mourinho sees clear scope for improvement, especially given that the club did not sanction his wish for a top midfield signing in the summer.
While Bernardo Silva has chipped in as a handy option to feature in the deep midfield, the club still lacks a controlling and creative option who can glue the team together.
In that sense, there is a clear lacuna that Real Madrid need to address and Defensa Central brings to light that the club have opened up to a potential target.
Zubimendi emerges as a target
Indeed, the player in question is Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi who the club have seen as a target for a long time, and Real Madrid could even go on to sign him in January.
The Spanish international has not started off the new season well under Mikel Arteta and has primarily featured as a substitute. He does, thus, see a move to Madrid with good eyes in every sense.
Real Madrid, for their part, have not ruled out his signing as was reported in recent months and there is even a chance they seriously pursue him in the winter transfer window as a mid-season fix.
The possible fee
The Spanish outlet also add that Zubimendi’s move to Real Madrid could be completed for a fee similar to what Arsenal paid for the player for his transfer from Real Sociedad – €70 million.
Mourinho’s insistence on making a new midfield signing is no secret, and with a clear target now in mind, the board could well back him with the player he wishes.
Notably, however, even Chelsea are seriously interested in his signing.
So far, Federico Valverde has been Real Madrid’s mainstay in midfield, and Aurelien Tchouameni’s return will change the team’s dynamics in the department.
Neither player, however, offers the control and distribution skill set that the team direly lack.
A big part of whether or not the club pushes for Zubimendi, however, will depend on how the Valverde-Tchouameni combination plays out in the coming months. It is, after all, the manager’s first-choice combination for big games.
