Bayern Munich among clubs interested in Atletico Madrid’s Rodri
According to Marca, Bayern Munich are one of a handful of clubs interested in signing 22-year-old Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodri.
Bayern Munich are in for a big squad overhaul this upcoming summer. The Bavarians have signed French defenders Benjamin Pavard (€35 million from VfB Stuttgart) and Lucas Hernandez (€80 million from Atletico Madrid) to shore up their slow and aging defensive line.
The club will now turn their attention to other areas of the pitch that could still use some reinforcements. Bayern are in particular need of some attacking additions in the summer window. Veteran wingers Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery are both set to depart Munich, while the club has no real backup for striker Robert Lewandowski.
However, there is a good chance Die Roten make some midfield additions as well. James Rodriguez‘s future is still entirely up in the air, meaning Bayern would need a more attacking midfield option. Bayer Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz stands out as the most likely option for that role. They could be in the market for a more defensive minded midfielder as well, with Javi Martinez on the wrong side of 30 and Renato Sanches far from being the developed player the club hoped he would be by now.
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According to a report from Marca, Bayern Munich may have found the perfect option to fill that role. Along with a few of Europe’s other top clubs, the Bavarians are monitoring 22-year-old midfielder Rodrigo Hernandez (Rodri).
Rodri just returned to Atletico Madrid — the club of his youth — from Villareal in the summer of 2018 and has been a revelation for Diego Simeone’s side in his debut season in Madrid. He’s drawn comparisons to fellow Spain international Sergio Busquets, and for good reason.
Rodri is tall and relatively slender, yet strong on the ball. He’s not only hard-working and adept at winning the ball back in midfield, he’s more than capable in possession and a fine passer of the ball.
If Bayern Munich are hoping to bolster their midfield by signing a more defensive-minded player, it’s hard to think of many better options than Rodri. At 22-years-old, he’s only going to get better over the coming year, but he’s already capable of challenging for a spot in Bayern’s starting XI. His reported €70 million release clause is not totally extravagant, and it’s easy to imagine the club being willing to pay that much for a player they really want.
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Right now this rumor is nothing more than just that: a rumor. However, Marca were the first to report on Bayern’s intent to sign Lucas Hernandez back in December. If they’ve got it right again this time, it’s likely we’ll be hearing much more of Die Roten‘s interest in Rodri over the coming weeks.