Rodri Pays His Termination Clause

By Joshua Walters

Departing Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodrigo Hernandez has paid his €70 million termination clause at LaLiga headquarters on Wednesday.

Having been linked with Premier League outfit Manchester City, the Spanish player, who had a contract with Atletico Madrid has paid the club the due fee before he can leave the Wanda Metropolitano stadium.

Searching for a permanent replacement to Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho, Pep Guardiola, who missed out on several midfielders including Frenkie de Jong, Fred and Jorginho believes Rodri is the best option to succeed the former Shakhtar Donetsk player.

The Citizens were expected to make the player their most expensive signing of all time if they were to pay his release clause of €70 million before they can discuss terms with the player and his representatives.

Rodri joined Atleti from Villarreal just last summer for an initial fee of €20 million to bespeak himself as a potential long-term replacement to Sergio Busquets for the Spanish national team.

Spending just a season at the club, the 23-year-old featured thirty-four times for the Los Rojiblancos in the Spanish LaLiga scoring 3 goals with one assist as his eight appearances in the Champions League provided no goal.

The central midfielder will now look to join his fellow countryman Pep Guardiola’s side, Manchester City in the coming dates.

With the player’s potential switch generating grounds in the domain, Diego Simone, Atletico Madrid manager was wary of his move as he tried to convince him to stay having promised him first team opportunities.

But the Argentine trainer now looks relieved after the club completed the signing of Marcos Llorente from Real Madrid.