Real Madrid chiefs clearly took a keen interest in this summer's World Cup. So much so that it has motivated them to move for Spain's prize midfielder Rodri after he was named player of the tournament.
The Manchester City metronome would have been available for free in 12 months. But Real want him now. And the feeling appears to be mutual.
Back in March, Rodri told a Spanish radio show about his desire to return to LaLiga, adding: "You can't turn down the best clubs in the world". City want Rodri to stay and sign an improved deal, but the lure of Real Madrid is hard to turn down.
Los Blancos' interest in him is long-standing and his performances for Spain, their understated superstar, have banished concerns about the long-term effects of his knee injury. Jose Mourinho wants experienced campaigners in his spine and Rodri is one of those rare breeds that has won the lot.
Besides, Man City have already spent a club-record fee on Elliot Anderson , not quite a ready-made successor but the potential is there. And, removing emotion from the situation, to get a sizeable payout for a player in their 30s with one year left on a contract that is not being renewed would be smart, if reluctant, business.
City's transfer strategy has necessitated a cold and calculated approach when it comes to players nearing the end of their cycle. Knowing when to let go - as they have done with Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and John Stones of late - has been crucial to their ability to rebuild. In the case of Rodri, drawing a fee must be considered the silver lining.
Massive. That element cannot be downplayed. Despite his age, and recent injury record, Rodri remains the most complete central midfielder to have operated in the Premier League over the past five years. "The best midfielder in the world by far," maintains Pep Guardiola.
Under Guardiola, City's in-play strategy revolved entirely around him, always impressing with his use of the ball and ability to receive in tight situations. He set the tempo for his team and controlled games as a result, doing the same for triumphant Spain this summer.
There is no current player who can condition a game like Rodri, and it is no coincidence City failed to retain their Premier League crown in the two seasons he was injury-plagued.
But in Anderson City have got a surrogate of sorts. The England international might not yet be the dictator Rodri is but he can evolve to become something close. As a box-to-box midfielder, the 23-year-old is putting up numbers that at least mean he is comparable.
And his efficiency in possession will be helped by those whom he now shares a dressing room with, allowing a more progressive midfielder to develop akin to City's style.
Line-breaking passes, Rodri's forte, are critical against packed Premier League defences. Anderson will need to brush up on his passing repertoire to replicate Rodri's range, but his off-the-ball work already tallies favourably. Enzo Maresca should be delighted by how coachable he is.
Clearly, Man City need to recruit in order to help fill the Rodri void if he leaves - perhaps by targeting more than one player. Fortunately, they had already started working through a formula for reducing reliance on him following his ACL injury in 2024.
Whether by design or default, City without Rodri has been taking shape long before now. Bernardo's industry was an important factor, while the burden was eased by a number of other stand-ins last season: Tijjani Reijnders, Nico Gonzalez and Nico O'Reilly all helped out. Those options remain open to Maresca now.
But is that a short-term fix or a long-term strategy?
Anderson is similar to Rodri in that he almost covers the ground of two midfielders, but at Nottingham Forest, he had Ibrahim Sangare for assistance. Maresca likes to play with two deep-lying midfielders, balancing a traditional No 6 with a more free-roaming No 8.
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Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi might be the answer. The 18-year-old showed the perfect mix of technical, ball-carrying quality and off-the-ball strength in his six outings for Morocco at the World Cup. He stood out as a midfielder with Premier League suitability - and City are huge admirers.
Rodri differs from most midfield anchors in that he anticipates opposition movements. That allows him to sweep up possession without necessarily needing to tackle; rather, he pressures and intercepts.
That radar allows City to retain control, momentum and possession in games, pinning opponents back in the tempered style Guardiola favoured. But Maresca's ideas differ slightly. He likes to be more direct, stretching games by using the pace of wingers to make the pitch bigger. Build-up becomes quicker.
His central midfielders might need to hustle and chase harder but the focus is less on them being outright pass masters. Anderson can still play proactively from deep, but he will have other technical players around him to lighten the load in possession, and zones to hit rather than always playing to feet.
It also helps that Maresca has never had the advantage of managing a team with Rodri as its centrepiece. His plan must evolve to control matches in another way. It is likely City adopt a more proactive pressing system higher up the pitch in order to exert territorial control on opponents.
Man City would be losing their best controller and a player with wily experience. It is a double hit. Rodri's mean streak is something you want to play with, not against.
Bernardo's loss is equally significant in that area. He was Guardiola's "favourite one" because of his unique tactical understanding of what every system demanded and every game state needed.
But, of course, City are familiar with this transition away from stars that defined particular eras of success. There was life after Sergio Aguero. More titles following Yaya Toure's departure. David Silva too.
Anderson will have immense pressure on his shoulders to deliver in Rodri's wake, but has all the credentials to thrive. He misses the opportunity to refine his game alongside one of the best in the business, but gains the chance to become one of them.
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Sources: Sky Sports
