Manchester City: Rodri now has formal offer from club
Rodri Hernández has a concrete offer from City and is close to accepting it, as the English club prepare to pay his 70m-euro release clause.
Rodri Hernández has a formal offer on the table from Manchester City, AS understands, as the midfielder moves closer and closer to an Atlético Madrid exit.
Rodri is yet to make a final decision over his future, but is thought to be very near to agreeing to go to the Etihad Stadium. However, there are other clubs interested in him, and he is determined to analyse all his options before committing to anything.
Rodri attracted by prospect of working with Guardiola
A City deal is now entirely down to the 22-year-old: with Atlético holding out for his 70-million-euro buy-out figure and the Premier League champions ready to pay it, his signature is all that is needed to make the move happen.
The Spain international has been offered a long-term contract in Manchester (running for either five or six years), with a salary that would represent a significant improvement on his current pay packet at Atlético.
Having spoken to Rodri to outline his plans for him and the team, City coach Pep Guardiola has been key to selling the club to the player. Indeed, working with Guardiola is a major lure for the ex-Villarreal man: he feels Pep's footballing philosophy fits his playing style better than Atlético boss Diego Simeone's.
Simeone doesn't feel Rodri is irreplaceable
Los Rojiblancos are keen for Rodri to stay, but are aware that it now comes down to what he decides to do. Furthermore, as has been revealed by AS, Simeone does not see him as irreplaceable and, in the Argentine's eyes, his departure after just one season at the Wanda Metropolitano would not represent a dramatic blow.
Either way, Rodri is keen not to delay his decision much further: as a product of Atleti's youth system, he is very grateful to the LaLiga club for their influence on his career and, if he does leave, he wants to give them as much time as possible to make alternative arrangements.