Manchester City ‘extremely optimistic’ over major breakthrough in player contract talks | OneFootball

Officials within the Etihad Stadium are holding a high level of confidence when it comes to their chances of striking an agreement with Rodri over a new contract.

The Manchester City defensive midfielder is currently sidelined through a long-term knee injury having undergone surgery earlier this year, but is fresh off the back of an outstanding two seasons for both club and country in particular.

Successes in the UEFA Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, two Premier League title-winning campaigns, and the European Championships and UEFA Nations League with Spain culminated in a Ballon d’Or success last month in Paris.

Such were the remarkable performances and achievements of Rodri for both club and country that the Spain international became the first defensive midfielder to be crowned as the Ballon d’Or winner since Lothar Matthaus in 1990.

It should as such come as no surprise to see Manchester City so determined to reward the former Villarreal and Atletico Madrid star for his outstanding showings on the pitch via a new and improved contract in the near future.

According to the information of journalist Antón Meana, speaking to El Larguero, City are aware of Rodri having ‘offers’ from ‘important teams’ across the European game, including Spanish clubs in Real Madrid, Barcelona, as well as European giants in Bayern Munich.

Despite an intention to lure the Ballon d’Or winner away, it is reported that Etihad bosses have already started their plan to prevent an exit, with a deal being their ‘priority objective’ and City being ‘extremely optimistic’ over a new contract before the end of the season.

Rodri is likely to be just one of several potential high-profile contractual negotiations taking place over the coming weeks and months, with big decisions still to be made around Kevin De Bruyne and manager, Pep Guardiola.

The Belgian playmaker, who is currently battling a fitness war off the field and struggling to get back to the levels he requires to perform for Manchester City, is set to see his contract expire at the end of the ongoing season.

Amid a major dilemma to be made on his future, De Bruyne is attracting transfer interest from both Saudi Arabia and Major League Soccer in the United States, with the understanding being that the latter would be his preference if he was to leave the Etihad Stadium.

As for Guardiola, the Catalan manager is also expiring his contractual expiry, and Manchester City are allowing the 53-year-old to make a decision on his future in his own time, despite being set in their own mind on retaining the tactician as their head coach.