A Manchester City move for a Brazilian international appears to be off the table | OneFootball

One player who has constantly been linked with a potential move to Manchester City is Real Madrid winger Rodrygo. A new report from Spanish journalist Jose Claros on X, indicated that Manchester City were keen to make a move to sign Rodrygo following the FIFA Club World Cup. But that report has been refuted by Jack Gaughan of the Daily Mail. Looking at the Rodrygo situation there are more pressing needs for City to address this summer rather than signing another player who can operate up front.

Manchester City need a right-back more than another winger.

When looking at Pep Guardiola’s squad, Manchester City are in desperate need of a right-back. That is seemingly the biggest hole in the Manchester City squad. It would appear that would be an area of the City squad that the City hierarchy will look to address following the FIFA Club World Cup. As Jack Gaughan reports in a separate report for the Daily Mail, Pep Guardiola remains unconvinced of the viability of continuing to play Matheus Nunes at right-back. So the need for Manchester City to sign a right-back far outweighs the need to sign a winger like Rodrygo. But two other factors would seemingly rule out a City move for the Real Madrid winger.

City doesn’t need Rodrygo and still has to sell players this summer.

In the position that Rodrygo plays, Manchester City are stacked with options. Jeremy Doku and Omar Marmoush appear set to play on the left wing. In the case of both players, if Rodrygo did arrive at the Etihad, it would limit both players’ opportunities. Rayan Cherki can also play on the left if required. On the right wing there is Oscar Bobb, Savinho, Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki for Pep Guardiola to choose from. Signing another winger isn’t a major priority. In fact, on the left, Omar Marmoush looks to be Manchester City’s first option. If Rodrygo were signed by City it would severely impact Marmoush’s opportunities. The Egyptian international appears set to be a prominent player for Pep Guardiola’s side. Based on that fact alone a City move for Rodrygo doesn’t make sense.

The other factor is that Manchester City have to sell players this summer. Pep Guardiola’s squad is bloated as it is. The potential of City signing a right-back and moving on to trimming their squad is more realistic than them signing Rodrygo and doing similar. Signing a right-back fills an obvious need, but signing Rodrygo doesn’t.

It would seem that there is no realistic possibility of Manchester City signing Rodrygo this summer. As per Jack Gaughan’s report, City have denied being interested in signing the Brazilian international. That situation could change in time, but for now, it doesn’t appear that City will move for Real Madrid’s Brazilian international.