Man City need to sign Bouaddi first before Rodri heading to Real Madrid for €65-75m

According to journalist Sergio Valentin, Real Madrid have reached an agreement with Rodri, and Man City will let him leave after signing Bouaddi. The Lille midfielder will replace the World Cup MVP in the Man City squad.

Rodri's transfer to Real Madrid is in its final stages. After weeks of negotiations and changes within Valdebebas, largely thanks to the role played by coach José Mourinho, Real Madrid has reached a full agreement on personal terms with the Spanish international. Real Madrid is now only waiting for Man City to finalize the signing of Lille's Moroccan midfielder Ayoub Bouaddi, after which Man City will approve the 2026 World Cup MVP's move to the Bernabéu.

According to ongoing reports from journalist Sergio Valentin, the progress of this deal is much further along than it appeared a few weeks ago. The biggest obstacle is no longer reaching an agreement with the player, nor any financial issues, but rather Man City’s need to find a replacement before letting go of the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner.

From the beginning, Rodri's first choice was Real Madrid. According to Sergio Valentin, despite Man City's attempts to stir up the transfer market and attract other suitors, such as Barcelona, to increase competition for the deal, Rodri was unwilling to consider any other offers.

Man City's strategy has not worked. Rodri has decided that if he leaves the Etihad this summer, he will only play under José Mourinho. The player's firm stance has significantly accelerated negotiations, and Real Madrid believe that, after reaching an agreement with the player through his agent, the deal is very close to completion.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Rodri will sign a four-year contract with Real Madrid, running until the 2030 World Cup in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. Rodri turns 30 on June 22.

The entire deal now hinges on Ayoub Bouaddi. The young Lille midfielder is a Moroccan international and one of the key emerging stars from the last World Cup. Enzo Maresca has chosen him as the candidate to begin the renewal of Man City's midfield.

Man City is working hard to finalize Bouaddi's signing as soon as possible. Once the acquisition is complete, Man City will officially open the door for Rodri's departure. Man City does not want to lose its midfield leader without first securing a high-level replacement.

According to Sergio Valentin, after the issue of the fee Real Madrid is willing to pay was resolved, the deal will ultimately be completed for between 65 million and 75 million euros. Real Madrid is willing to bear this cost because they believe Rodri is the ideal candidate to lead the new sporting project.

There is great optimism at Valdebebas. Real Madrid has reached an agreement with Rodri, the player is only considering wearing white, and Man City is already advancing Bouaddi's transfer. If this final step is confirmed in the coming days, Rodri will be very close to becoming a new Real Madrid player.

AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details, and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com