22-year old becomes City's record signing
Manchester City have paid the release clause for Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodri.
Atletico have confirmed that the required 70-million euro has been lodged with La Liga and his contract at the Metropolitano has been duly cancelled.
The 22-year old is now free to join the English treble-winners and will become their record signing.
Manchester City pays Rodrigo's buyout clause at LaLiga headquarters. The player has unilaterally terminated his contract with our club.
👉 https://t.co/MV0RpPtQ9u— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) July 3, 2019
Rodri has only spent a single season at Atletico Madrid, having been a €20m purchase from Villareal. The tall midfielder has drawn comparisons from some quarters to one of Pep Guardiola's former charges at Barcelona, Sergio Busquets.
Bayern Munich had also been interested in signing Rodri, who reportedly informed Atletico chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin of his desire to leave the club last month. Despite efforts made by Diego Simeone to have Rodri stay, he has opted to start a new life in the Premier League.
Atletico had smoothed the path for Rodri to leave, with last month's €40m signing of Marcos Llorente from city rivals, Real Madrid.
It's believed Rodri is seen as a like-for-like replacement for Fernandinho in the deep-lying midfield role. The Brazilian international turned 34 last month.
Rodri was a near ever-present for Atletico in La Liga last term, scoring on three occasions and offering a solitary assist. The Atletico youth graduate also played in all eight of Los Rojiblancos outings in the Champions League, starting six-times.
His departure continues a series of outgoings from the Wanda Metropolitano this summer. Lucas Hernandez (€75m to Bayern Munich), Gelson Martins (€21m to Monaco), Diego Godin (free to Inter) and Juanfran (released) are among those to wave goodbye to Simeone and co over the past two-months.
Rodri's exit won't be the last, nor the biggest money-maker. Having told the club he wants to leave, Antoine Griezmann is set to complete a €120m move to Barcelona in the coming days.
