Atletico Madrid have confirmed that Manchester City have paid Rodrigo Hernandez’s release clause and he is set to join the Premier League champions.
Atletico Madrid confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that the Premier League champions have now paid the Spain international’s €70m release clause in full and he has reportedly travelled to Manchester to complete his move to the Etihad Stadium.
Rodri will need to undergo a medical and complete the formalities of his move from Atletico Madrid – but Pep Guardiola believes he has ended his long search for a top-class holding midfielder. Rodri was Manchester City’s priority summer target after missing out on Frenkie de Jong in January.
Rodrigo Hernandez has been earmarked as a starting defensive midfielder, in competition with Fernandinho and is expected to replace the 34-year-old Brazil international once his career ends. That could be next summer, but Fernandinho may be offered another year on his contract if he performs well in the coming season.
Rodri is a Spain international, with six caps, and is seen as the successor to Sergio Busquets in the national team. He spent just one season at Atletico Madrid after a £22million move from Villarreal. He quickly became a key player for them. So, now it looks as if Guardiola has found a long-term successor to 34-year-old Fernandinho and also added some much-needed height to his squad following the departure of Vincent Kompany.
Under Spanish football rules, the player has to pay his own release fee, so City have advanced the €70 m to the 23-year-old midfielder. Rodri’s representatives then forward the money to La Liga, who in turn pass it on to the selling club – and that will make it a City club-record fee, edging past the £60million paid for Riyad Mahrez last summer.
Various reports suggest that City are also close to completing a £5.3m deal to bring 22-year-old former academy left-back Angelino back to the club from PSV Eindhoven. They also plan to replace Kompany with a top-class centre-half with Harry Maguire targeted. While a move for Juventus right-back Joao Cancelo is still also in the works.
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