Manchester City are reportedly looking to offer midfielder Rodri a bumper new deal that could see him stay at the club beyond the summer of 2024.
According to reports in the Telegraph, Manchester City plan to offer Spanish midfielder Rodri a new deal as they prepare for life without Fernandinho, The 25-year-old will have two years remaining on his contract after the ongoing season, and the Cityzens want to tie him to a longer deal.
Rodri joined Manchester City in a deal worth €62 million in the 2019 summer transfer window from Atletico Madrid and has since grown into one of the best midfielders in the Premier League. An Atletico Madrid youth product, Rodri moved to the Villarreal junior side in 2013. He gradually made his way to the Yellow Submarines’ first team, and was eventually bought back by the Rojiblancos for €20 million in 2018.
After impressing for Diego Simeone’s side in the 2018/19 season, Rodri moved to England in 2019 and has been with City since. The Spanish international has become an integral part of Pep Guardiola’s plans at the club and is one of the first names on the teamsheet.
The midfielder has made 137 appearances for the reigning Premier League champions, scoring nine and assisting eight goals. This season, Rodri has played 32 times for City across all competitions, scoring three goals in the process. He has also been remarkable with his passing, making 2,087 successful passes this season, the highest in the Premier League.
With Rodri producing top-class performances consistently, the City hierarchy is confident that he can be the first-choice defensive midfielder for years to come. As such, they are prepared to offer him a bumper new deal and extend his stay at the club. With club captain Fernandinho’s contract expiring at the season, Guardiola’s side are ready to fully entrust their holding midfield department to the Spanish international.
There is little to no doubt that Rodri will pen a new deal with the club and extend his stay beyond the 2024 summer. He has won a Premier League title and two EFL Cups with the Cityzens so far and will want to add to that count in the coming seasons.
Despite the impending extension for Rodri, it will not come as a surprise to see Manchester City sign another player in the midfield department. There have been links to Sporting CP star Matheus Nunes, who has come in for immense praise from Guardiola himself. At the same time, Rodri’s midfield partner, Ilkay Gundogan, is ready to snub interest from Barcelona to extend his stay at the Etihad Stadium.