Onda Cero: The 'new Busquets' already wants to leave Atletico Madrid

Onda Cero: The 'new Busquets' already wants to leave Atletico Madrid

Rodrigo remata de cabeza contra la Juve
Rodrigo remata de cabeza contra la Juve | sport

Manchester City are in pole position to land the combative midfielder and are willing to pay his buyout clause this summer

Rodri has told his agent that he wants to leave Atletico Madrid according to Onda Cero. The reason behind this sudden change is the offers on the table from some of Europe's richest sides, most notably Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.

Guardiola needs a new defensive midfielder ahead of the new season. Fernandinho is 33 and Gundogan is likely to leave in the summer too. This would free up a starting place for Rodri in a team which has aspirations of winning every available trophy. The former Villarreal midfielder's style would fit perfectly in Pep's possession-based system, so much so that he's often been referred to as the 'new Busquets'.

He's only been at Atletico Madrid for one season and was viewed as an option for the future. However the 22-year-old has been an ever-present for Diego SImeone, playing in 40 matches and racking up 3,155 minutes of action.

Atletico paid €20m plus €5m in variables for him and now, in less than a year, can except Manchester City to pay his €70m buyout clause. On the business side of things it represents a huge success but Rodri will leave a massive hole in Atletico's midfield. Not just for the next season, but for many seasons to come.