Manchester City coach dismisses concerns over Real Madrid target’s future: ‘He will be back here with us’

Manchester City coach dismisses concerns over Real Madrid target’s future: ‘He will be back here with us’ Real Madrid have been looking for a controlling midfield presence for a long time now, and Manchester City’s Rodri has slowly but surely grown as their top target. The Spanish veteran was not Florentino Perez’s preferred target for long, especially given his indirect links with Enrique Riquelme’s presidential campaign earlier this summer. The player’s World Cup performances, however, gave rise to serious internal pressure on the Real Madrid president and he now seems to have given the green light for his arrival. Earlier today, in fact, it even came to light that  Los Blancos  may be willing to  sell Aurelien Tchouameni  to fund Rodri’s arrival. Maresca’s optimism Manchester City’s new manager Enzo Maresca spoke about the World Cup Golden Ball winner in a recent interview via  Ben Jacobs  where he provided an update on Rodri’s future as well as his impending back surgery  and his duration out of action. “Around big players there is always speculation. I am not worried about that. It is normal. And they [Spain] won the World Cup, and he was the best player,”  he began on the transfer links. Rodri linked with Real Madrid. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) Notably, he then emphasised that the midfield star would return to training with them after his recovery, paying no heed to the transfer links with Real Madrid. “Every manager wants to have Rodri because he’s a top player. But now it is surgery [on a back issue], I think on Monday, and then he needs a holiday and to rest and recover, and then he will be back here with us.” Needless to say, Maresca’s words come as the biggest possible assurance that he remains part of Manchester City’s plans and that a move will not be as simple as expected. Internal conviction on the deal While Real Madrid were uncertain about the signing of Rodri for a long time, they are said to have finally reached  a final decision  in recent hours. City do not wish to sell Rodri. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) Indeed,  Los Blancos  have decided to sign the midfielder and that there is no longer two ways about it. What works in the  Merengues’  favour is that Rodri has just one year left on his contract in England, putting Manchester City in a weak negotiating spot. Should the right offer arrive, it will be almost impossible for them to turn it down. Rodri’s surgery, however, will raise mild concerns at the Spanish capital given that the player will miss the opening weeks of the new season through the same if he makes the transfer.