Manchester City plotting a move for La Liga midfield enforcer: Excellent choice for Pep

Manchester City have been linked with a transfer for Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodri; it has been claimed.

According to Metro, the English champions are keen to secure the services of Rodri, who has a release clause of €70 million.

While Atletico Madrid are powerless to prevent the midfielder from leaving the club, should City trigger his buyout clause, they could demand defender Nicolas Otamendi in an attempt to sweeten the deal.

Rodri: An ideal target for Manchester City

There is no doubt that Manchester City will be actively looking for a long-term replacement for Fernandinho this summer after being thwarted twice last summer. The Brazilian midfielder has turned 34 this month, and his steady decline has been somewhat evident this season especially with regards to injuries. Hence, Rodri is a viable target for the Sky Blues.

The Spanish midfielder has impressed since joining from Villarreal last summer, having made 32 appearances in the Spanish top flight. His combative nature in midfield has made him a tailor-made fit for Diego Simeone’s high-intensity football, which relies heavily on aggression and athleticism. Rodri, to that end, is equipped with the aforementioned qualities.

The 22-year-old has been predominantly used as a defensive midfielder in Simeone’s traditional 4-4-2 system. His ability to break up play in midfield coupled with his aggression has allowed him to thrive in Atleti’s two banks of four.

Although one could argue that Pep Guardiola’s possession-based game might not suit Rodri’s robust nature, it’s probably fair to point out that the Spaniard has attained excellent numbers in his passing and overall ball-distribution. He has a pass completion rate of more than 90% – more than any other Atletico player this season.

That means the 22-year-old can be deployed in the holding midfield role, where he can disrupt the opposition’s flow while providing additional defensive cover for the backline. His proficiency in passing will also help him circulate the ball and help his team retain the lion’s share of possession.

Rodri’s defensive expertise is sure to take the pressure off from the likes of David Silva, Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin de Bruyne and Bernardo Silva, all of who are primarily attack-minded midfielders.

From a financial perspective, the departure of Otamendi will help City fund the move for Rodri, which is an ideal deal for the club.

Otamendi has struggled to nail down a starting place under Guardiola this season, and his demand for more game-time is not a secret. As for Atletico, Simeone is known to be a huge admirer of the Argentine centre-back and could welcome his arrival, especially with Diego Godin set to leave the club in the summer.

Stat courtesy: Whoscored