Manchester City dreaming of Real Madrid star ‘in love with Pep Guardiola’ after Champions League mixed zone conversation | OneFootball

Manchester City have not ruled out a swoop for Real Madrid forward Rodrygo after failing to attract him to the Etihad Stadium last summer, according to reports.

The Premier League champions are expected to bolster their attacking options and provide cover for talisman Erling Haaland as part of the major rebuild Pep Guardiola has been tasked with in the summer.

It has been a crossroads campaign for the four-in-a-row Premier League champions, who can be classed as out of the ongoing Premier League title race as they sit 20 points below runaway leaders Liverpool with a game in hand.

A mass exodus is set to follow in the north-west and having sold each of Riyad Mahrez, Cole Palmer and Julian Alvarez in the last 18 months, Manchester City are expected to invest in their frontline and paper over their over-reliance on Erling Haaland.

Now, according to journalist Jorge Picon, Real Madrid superstar Rodrgyo features on Manchester City’s attacking wish-list after the English champions were thwarted in a pursuit of the Brazilian forward last summer.

The 24-year-old has enjoyed playing against City in what has become a customary meeting with Real Madrid in Europe, but the addition of Kylian Mbappe to Carlo Ancelotti’s star-studded ranks has often meant Rodrygo has had to play out of position on the right.

Pep Guardiola is said to be a huge fan of Rodrgyo and enjoyed a close chat with the winger in the mixed zone as Real Madrid knocked Manchester City out of the UEFA Champions League last-16 play-offs via a 6-2 aggregate win over two-legs.

Real Madrid have branded Rodrygo as ‘non-transferrable’ and while City – along with Manchester United and clubs in Saudi Arabia – retain an interest in the Brazilian, the Spanish outfit are highly unlikely to entertain an approach for one of their most prolific forwards.

Rodrygo is not short of suitors at the Etihad, having scored four times and assisted another in seven appearances against Pep Guardiola’s side – and while he may not move to City in the summer, it will be interesting to see the dynamics in the Madrid frontline.