Manchester City are poised to make a bold move in the transfer market, targeting Real Madrid’s dynamic winger Rodrygo Goes as they aim to bolster their attacking options for the 2025-26 Premier League season. The 24-year-old Brazilian, a proven performer on Europe’s grandest stages, has emerged as a prime target for Pep Guardiola, whose admiration for the versatile forward is no secret. With the summer transfer window nearing its climax, City’s potential offer for Rodrygo could reshape their squad, but the deal hinges on a key condition involving one of their own players.
Rodrygo, who joined Real Madrid from Santos in 2019 for €45 million, has carved out a reputation as a clutch performer, with 68 goals and 51 assists in 270 appearances for Los Blancos. His standout moments include a dramatic brace against Manchester City in the 2022 Champions League semi-finals, a performance he described as life-changing: “My status in football changed a lot after those two goals. People started looking at me with different eyes.” Despite his contributions to two La Liga-Champions League doubles in 2022 and 2024, Rodrygo’s role has diminished under new Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso. The arrival of Kylian Mbappé, alongside stars like Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, and emerging talents Gonzalo Garcia and Franco Mastantuono, has pushed Rodrygo down the pecking order, sparking speculation about his future.
Manchester City’s interest in Rodrygo is contingent on the potential departure of their own Brazilian winger, Savinho, who has attracted attention from Tottenham Hotspur. City recently rejected an offer for the 21-year-old, but Spurs are expected to return with an improved bid, reportedly north of £50 million. Should Savinho exit, City are prepared to table an opening offer of €80 million for Rodrygo, with an additional €20 million in performance-based add-ons, aligning with Real Madrid’s minimum valuation of €100 million. “The reported €80 million plus add-ons offer that Manchester City is seemingly willing to submit for Rodrygo does seem to represent good value,” noted a transfer insider, highlighting the rarity of a player with Rodrygo’s goal-scoring and creative abilities at just 24 years old.
Guardiola’s fascination with Rodrygo stems from the player’s versatility and big-game mentality. Capable of thriving as a right-winger, left-winger, or even a centre-forward, Rodrygo offers “goals, assists, energy, effort, experience, selflessness, variety, balance, and big-game performances,” as one analyst put it. His ability to find space, create chances, and maintain an 85.9% pass completion rate in La Liga last season makes him an ideal fit for City’s fluid attacking system. “Rodrygo could even serve as an upgrade over Jeremy Doku, who has struggled to be consistent,” a pundit observed, suggesting the Brazilian could form a lethal partnership with Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush.
However, the transfer is not without complications. Rodrygo’s camp has remained tight-lipped, with sources close to the player denying any firm decision to leave Madrid. Last year, Guardiola personally reached out to Rodrygo after a Champions League clash, but the winger expressed reluctance to depart, citing his love for Real Madrid. “It’s the most special night of my career,” Rodrygo said of his 2022 heroics against City, adding that he finds it “very difficult to play against” Guardiola’s teams. Despite this, his limited 27 minutes at the recent Club World Cup under Alonso has fueled speculation that he may be open to a new challenge, particularly if guaranteed a starring role at the Etihad.
The transfer saga has drawn interest from other Premier League giants, including Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United, with the latter reportedly preparing a €150 million bid. Chelsea have also entered the fray with a €100 million offer, but City’s financial muscle and Guardiola’s vision give them an edge. Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is reportedly open to a sale if Rodrygo pushes for an exit, though Alonso emphasized that no final decisions have been made: “The fact that he didn’t play again is a game-by-game decision. We want to build a team that plays as a unit.”
As the transfer window clock ticks down, Manchester City’s pursuit of Rodrygo promises to be a blockbuster storyline. With Savinho’s future uncertain and Rodrygo’s star power undeniable, the coming days could see City secure a transformative signing—or spark a bidding war among Europe’s elite.
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