Manchester City Will Activate €70m Release Clause Of Atlético Madrid Star Rodri

Manchester City will break their club-record transfer fee as they have activated Rodri's €70m (£60.5m) release clause.

According to Sky Sport Italia and the Guardian's Fabrizio Romano, the Premier League champions have confirmed their intentions to sign the Atlético Madrid star.

The 22-year-old Spanish midfielder is now discussing his contract details ahead of becoming Pep Guardiola's first summer signing in the window.

With Rodri heading to the Etihad, the Spanish club will turn their attention to Real Madrid's Marcos Llorente as a replacement.

Manchester City's fee for the Spain international, who has been linked with Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Manchester United, would make him the club's new record signing.

Guardiola broke City's transfer record last summer when the club splashed out £60m for Riyad Mahrez from Leicester City.

Rodri signed for Los Rojiblancos last summer from Villarreal for a reported fee of €20m.

PA

And he has become an important player under Diego Simeone after notching up 47 appearances across all competitions.

Rodri, who has been linked with City in recent months, is widely considered the 'successor of Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets for the Spanish national team.'

Guardiola is expected to strengthen his midfield options after his side's historic domestic treble-winning season.

But the City boss could be expected to raid Atlético again in the hopes of capturing Saúl Ñíguez, who is considered as a long-term replacement for Fernandinho.

PA

While there were rumours that Guardiola would take a sabbatical leave if City won the Champions League next season, the ex-Barcelona boss slammed any such suggestion over his future.

"No. I do not take sabbatical years. I am young and I have desire," he told reporters in Spain.

"The news comes out and many things are not true. If they do not kick me out, I'll stay there."

Will Rodri be a hit at City?

Let us know in the comments.

Topics: Manchester City, Rodri, Football News, Football, Pep Guardiola, Atletico Madrid, Premier League, La Liga, Diego Simeone

Adnan Riaz

Adnan Riaz is a journalist for SPORTbible. He studied for a B.A. in History at the University of York and followed it up with an M.A. in Multimedia Journalism at MMU. Before he started writing about sports, he spent over four years in the gaming press. He has worked for several publications, including Hardcore Gamer, LADbible and the Manchester Evening News. Follow him on Twitter to find out what he is working on next. Got a story tip for Adnan? Email him: [email protected]

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