by David Clayton@dclayton_MCFC
Media: ‘Rodri stats will have City fans drooling’
With our second signing of the summer wrapped up, Rodri is in the headlines in this morning’s media.
There are also claims that City’s reported interest in Harry Maguire is over and often-linked Juventus defender Joao Cancelo is being courted by Barcelona – but first, Rodri.
The eloquent Spaniard impressed journalists at his first press conference yesterday with his fluent English and calm, intelligent responses.
READ: Rodri chooses squad number
But the Daily Star believe when he gets on the pitch, he will impress even more, reeling off some impressive stats.
They write: “The Citizens broke their transfer record to sign the Spaniard yesterday.
“Rodri joins Pep Guardiola’s side in a £62.5m deal for five years. The defensive midfielder joined Atletico Madrid last season from Villarreal.
“And the 23-year-old scored 3 goals in 47 appearance and statistics have emerged which show the defensive impact Rodri has made in his young career.
“According to Squawka, Rodri the only player in La Liga to make more than 200 tackles since the start of the 2017/18 season.
“City’s new star is also the only player to win possession more than 500 times during that period.
“The actual number is 600 times winning play back for Atletico – and the 23-year-old recorded the second-most tackles with 207 over those two seasons."
Impressive.
Moving on to one deal several reports this morning claim won’t be happening.
With United believed to have logged a bid for England defender Harry Maguire, the Blues, it is suggested, will walk away from any transfer auction for the Foxes star.
90 Minutes write: “Manchester City are not prepared to meet Leicester's current asking price for Harry Maguire, leaving rivals Manchester United in the clear to wrap up a deal of their own.
“Maguire is the top defensive target for both clubs this summer, but each have found early negotiations with Leicester difficult. The Foxes are under no pressure to sell the England international and have already rejected offers of £70m from both clubs, in clear belief that Maguire is worth significantly more in the current market.
“Despite setting high initial demands, the 2015/16 Premier League champions were prepared to do business upon receiving an offer of between £85m and £90m. Matters have shifted, however, as neither United nor City have been willing to put up such a fee to win the 26-year-old's signature. Their stance has forced Leicester to reassess."
Staying with alleged competition for potential targets and the Mirror believe that Barcelona have joined a queue of clubs interested in Joao Cancelo.
They report: “City could face competition from Barcelona in their pursuit of Juventus full-back Joao Cancelo if Nelson Semedo leaves the Catalan club.
“Having completed the signings of defensive midfielder Rodri from Atletico Madrid and left-back Angelino from PSV Eindhoven, City manager Pep Guardiola had been hoping the addition of Cancelo to provide competition at right-back would end his business in this transfer
“City were thought to be edging close to a €60m deal to sign the Portuguese star, but according to Sport-English Barcelona could enter the race to sign Cancelo depending on what happens with regards Semedo's future.
“Semedo has been at Barcelona for two seasons and was an important member of the first-team during the last campaign, registering 46 appearances in all competitions."
Friday Gossip
posted on 5/7/19
Part 2
Finally, Sky Sports suggest that City’s average squad age indicates a period of Premier League domination.
The thoughtful research piece highlights the fact that many City stars are approaching their peak at the same time, which is bad news for the champions’ top-flight rivals.
It reads: “Will Manchester City, the first back-to-back Premier League title winners for a decade, be able to maintain their success through a similar period of transition? The good news is that the process is well underway with the signing of Rodri, surely the long-term replacement for Fernandinho, just the latest example. The age profile of the squad has already changed.
“When Pep Guardiola arrived, for all the funding available, he inherited a tricky situation. Eleven of the 22 players to start a Premier League for City in the previous season were over 30. A further five were already 28 and another, Kelechi Iheanacho, was still a teenager.
“To underline the scale of the rebuilding job, the only players in the City squad aged between 22 and 27 - regarded as the peak years for most outfield players - were Kevin De Bruyne, Fabian Delph, Eliaquim Mangala and Wilfried Bony. It was not the ideal starting point from which to deliver unprecedented success in the short term.
“The transformation has cost money, of course, but the crucial thing is that it has happened, and it has been relatively seamless. Of the nine players to feature 30 times or more for City last season, the majority are aged between 23 and 25. Add John Stones, Benjamin Mendy and Gabriel Jesus to that core group and it's a squad with stars entering their peak years.”
That’s it for this morning – more tomorrow…