- Man City hope to make Rodri their highest-paid player to ward off Real Madrid
- The Premier League side may have to ask one of their stars to take a pay cut
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off!, available wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Monday and Thursday
Manchester City are reportedly set to offer star midfielder Rodri a bumper new deal in a bid to fend off Real Madrid‘s advances.
However, the Premier League giants may have to ask one of their stars to lower their own wages to help keep the Spaniard.
Rodri has cemented himself as one of City’s most vital players since arriving from Atletico Madrid in 2019.
His importance was no more evident than last season, as City’s only losses in the Premier League came when Rodri was absent due to suspension.
The 28-year-old also played a key role in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph and was named the best player of the tournament.
Manchester City are hoping to make star midfielder Rodri the highest-paid player at the club
Rodri played a vital role for Spain at the Euros and was named best player of the tournament
The 28-year-old has been one of City’s best players since signing from Atletico Madrid in 2019
Recognising his importance to the club, The Sun reports City are prepared to make Rodri ‘the club’s highest-paid player’ and will offer him wages of £375,000 a week.
But placing Rodri at the top of the club’s wage bill will come at a cost.
The report claims City will ask Kevin De Bruyne ‘to restructure his pay packet’ on a lower salary.
However, the Belgian would be compensated by ‘lucrative bonuses in a new long-term contract’.
De Bruyne’s deal with City is set to expire at the end of the season and has been linked with a big-money move to Saudi Arabia as well as the MLS.
City’s desperation to tie down Rodri comes after the raft of Real Madrid stars within Spain’s squad attempted to sweet talk him into a move.
Speaking prior to the final at Euro 2024, Madrid defender Dani Carvajal revealed his efforts to lure Rodri to the Spanish giants, although the City star was not tempted.
‘I tell [Rodri] every day to come to Madrid,’ Carvajal told COPE.
City may need to ask Kevin De Bruyne to take on a reduced salary in order to keep Rodri
Dani Carvajal tried to tempt Rodri to join Real Madrid during the Euros but to no avail
‘I tell him: ‘Leave Manchester, there is no sun there, and come to Madrid, we need you. And what’s more, you’re from Madrid.’
Carvajal added: ‘He says he has a contract, that there aren’t release clauses [in England] … He gives me the runaround basically, but he would be the perfect signing, no doubt. He is Spanish, from Madrid … He would fit in perfectly.’
