Latest news with #2024EuropeanChampionship
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Manchester City report: Real Madrid eyeing a move for Rodri
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Rodri is wanted at Real Madrid. | Credit: FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images Manchester City risk losing Rodri to Real Madrid. Martin Zubimendi may have a major impact on the future of the Manchester City no.6, with Zubimendi the focus of intense speculation for the past few transfer windows, and the saga seemingly set to end with a move to Arsenal in the coming weeks. Advertisement The transfer leaves Real Madrid scrambling as they look to replace the outgoing Luka Modric, and their next target may be Rodri. Manchester City braced for interest in Rodri from Real Madrid Rodri holding the Ballon d'Or | Credit: Luis Soto Rodri, who is the current Ballon d'Or holder, and ranked at no.1 in FourFourTwo's list of the best players in the world right now, has featured just once for his club since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament against Arsenal in September. In the year previous, he won the Premier League and Club World Cup with Manchester City, and was coming off the back of a stellar 2024 European Championship, which he won and was crowned the best player of the tournament. Rodri celebrates with his Player of the Tournament trophy after helping Spain win Euro 2024. | Credit: Getty Images His contract at Manchester City runs until 2027, and Real Madrid are set to see whether the he will let it run into it's final year. Advertisement Diario AS suggest that Real Madrid are willing to wait and see if there is any movement, and should he enter the final year they may make an attempt to sign him for a cut price deal. Man City may be faced with a similar situation to Liverpool and Trent Alexander-Arnold this season, where it became clear they either had to sell him last summer, or in January, or lose him for free. According to the report, the situation may depend on the Club World Cup, where Xabi Alonso will take charge of his first Real Madrid matches. Credit: Alamy As it stands, Manchester City probably have nothing to worry about. Rodri is recovering from a serious injury, and they will need to ease him back into action before even considering next steps regarding his contract. Advertisement However, should his level be far below what we've come to expect of him, selling him next year after the World Cup, when he will be 30 years old, may be the best scenario for all involved. Warmer weather and a chance to return to his home nation may appeal greatly to Rodri at that stage in his career, and Manchester City may be moving to a post-Pep Guardiola world anyway by then.
South China Morning Post
16-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Arsenal keep hunting Liverpool, Manchester City star born, Anisimova's Qatar joy
The 17-year-old forward Ethan Nwaneri drew comparisons with Lionel Messi, but it was the unlikely figure of Mikel Merino who came off the bench to rescue Arsenal's Premier League title dreams in a 2-0 victory at Leicester City. The Gunners' injury issues presented a rare starting opportunity for Raheem Sterling, but Mikel Arteta, the head coach, ran out of patience with the toiling former England winger after 69 minutes. On went Merino, who appeared in every match of Spain's triumphant 2024 European Championship campaign, to score after 81 and 87 minutes. Nwaneri had twice hit the woodwork, as relegation-haunted Leicester threatened to claim the point that would have moved them one point behind 17th-placed Wolves. The teenager teed-up Merino's opener to cap an outstanding individual display that had Joe Cole, the former Chelsea midfielder, veering dangerously close to hyperbole. 'These little touches in and around the box - I don't even want to say it, but it's like Lionel Messi,' said Cole, who rushed to add that 'he didn't want to put any more pressure on [Nwaneri]'. That horse might have bolted, but the same is not yet true of Arsenal's championship push, after they moved four points behind Liverpool, who face Wolves today. Teenage Arsenal forward Ethan Nwaneri stars against Leicester to earn comparisons with Lionel Messi. Photo: AFP City crown new Egyptian king Manchester City responded to their mid-season collapse by shelling out £180 million (US$226m) on four players in the January transfer window.
