‘I have a year left on my contract, obviously there will be a point where we’ll have to sit down and talk, have a conversation,’ Rodri told Onda Cero when asked about his situation at City.
Asked if he would turn down a move to Real Madrid because he has already played for Atletico, Rodri replied: ‘No, I mean, there have been many players who have gone down that path, right? And especially not directly, but over time.
‘I mean, for me, you can’t turn down the best clubs in the world.
Rodri admits he would find it difficult to reject Real Madrid (Getty)
However, speaking on Radio Marca’s La Tribu, presenter Raul Varela claimed that Madrid would prioritise a move for Fernandez ahead of Rodri if they signed a new central midfielder this summer.
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‘Enzo is much closer to Real Madrid, Rodri has no chance of going to Real Madrid,’ Varela said.
‘Today, the president of Real Madrid doesn’t want to sign him. I hate transfer news because everything changes every fifteen minutes, but today the president of Real Madrid is not going to sign Rodri.’
Marca’s Amalio Moratalla added: ‘He’s a very high-level player who would surely fit in at Real Madrid, the question is what price Chelsea would set and what effort Real Madrid would have to make.’
Meanwhile, in an interview with YouTube channel Avirales which was released over the weekend, Fernandez gave a clear indication that he would be open to joining Real Madrid.
‘I’d like to live in Spain. I really like Madrid, it reminds me of Buenos Aires,’ Fernandez said.
‘Players live where they want. I’d live in Madrid. I get by in English, but I’d be more comfortable in Spanish.’
Injury issues limited Calafiori to 19 Premier League appearances last season but he has already surpassed that figure this term as Mikel Arteta’s first-choice left-back.
Calafiori has contributed to Arsenal’s brilliant defensive record this season, with the Gunners only conceding 22 goals in the league as they chase their first Premier League title in 22 years.
The 23-year-old Italian’s performances also helped Arsenal reach the Carabao Cup final and go deep in both the Champions League and FA Cup.
Calafiori’s performances at the Emirates Stadium have not gone unnoticed, with reports in Italy claiming both Inter Milan and Napoli would love to bring him back to Serie A.
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However, Arsenal have made it clear to interested parties that Calafiori is not for sale ahead of the summer transfer window and expect him to be a key part of the squad for many years to come.
Calafiori has hinted at a future move back to his native country but has no plans on leaving Arsenal anytime soon and wants to win several trophies at the Premier League giants.
Asked if he ever felt ‘homesick’ in England, Calafiori told La Gazzetta dello Sport: ‘I miss the sun and would like to see friends and family more often, but I’m not complaining.
‘In Italy, we’re used to observing, judging, and criticising. I like that it’s not like that here.’
Pressed on why he decided to leave Italy for the Premier League two years ago, Calafiori responded: ‘I’ve always dreamed of playing in England.
He HAS to go blud… right? 🤔 Arsenal fans give their verdict on whether their manager, Mikel Arteta, will still be at the North London outfit if they do NOT win any trophies this season from the position they’re in. #mikelarteta#arsenal#footballfans#premierleague#trophy
‘After the European Championship, my price tag increased, and my agent explained that Arsenal really wanted me.
‘I knew I’d be playing in the toughest league. But I told myself I could always take a step back. And let’s be clear: Arsenal is Arsenal, an iconic team, unlike any other.’
Myles Lewis-Skelly challenged Calafiori for a place in the team last season but has slipped down Arteta’s pecking order this term, sparking speculation over his own future in north London.
The Gunners are odds-on favourites to be crowned champions of England for the first time since 2004 after opening up a nine-point advantage at the top of the table.
Arteta will, however, be taking absolutely nothing for granted with seven games remaining and his side received something of a wake-up call prior to the international break with a Carabao Cup final defeat reminding them of Manchester City’s capabilities.
Pep Guardiola’s side still have a game in-hand and host the current leaders at the Etihad Stadium in three week’s time when they will hope to cut the lead to at least three points.
Given the workload his squad has already undertaken and the arduous schedule ahead, it has come as little surprise to see so many Arsenal players pull out of their respective international squads over the course of the past week.
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Quite how injured the walking wounded are remains to be seen but Lineker suspects we will see a fair few recovering in time for Arsenal’s FA Cup tie against Southampton this weekend.
Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice won’t play for England against Japan (Picture: Getty)
‘Interestingly a couple of Arsenal players have pulled out of this squad now. Both Saka and Declan Rice have gone,’ Lineker told his The Rest is Football podcast.
‘They joined people like Saliba and Gabriel and one or two other players. I think Arteta is playing a Sir Alex role here.’
Lineker was, of course, making reference to the former Manchester United manager who would often pressure his players, in particular Ryan Giggs, into missing friendly matches for their countries.
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‘All managers have done that but generally it’s down to the players,’ Lineker added.
‘The manager would always pressure you to pull out of friendlies in particular. It happened to me a couple of times and on both occasions I said no chance.’
Given the timing of this latest round of friendlies and World Cup play-offs, Lineker’s fellow presenter Alan Shearer conceded it was only logical for so many Arsenal players to opt to put their feet up with so much at stake in the coming weeks.
Martin Zubimendi became the tenth Arsenal player to pull out of international duty (Picture: Getty)
He said: ‘It’s not surprising, it happens and it goes on. You’ve got to look at it from his point of view, the club’s point of view. I guess they’re looking at it and trying to make history.
That’s fine and you’ve got the right to do that as a player.
‘They are both friendlies and if there are two that are pretty much guaranteed a place in the squad as Rice and Saka are, Madueke has pulled out as well with injury.’
Mikel Arteta’s squad has been badly affected by injuries (Picture: Getty)
The international break has brought mixed news for Mikel Arteta on the injury front with 10 senior first team players heading back to London Colney in varying states of disrepair.
Quite what side Arteta will be able to select for the trip to St Mary’s remains to be seen and the picture is sure to change over the course of the coming days as Arsenal’s medical department gets a firmer idea on the state the walking wounded are in.
As for the rest,Arteta is unlikely to take risks with the likes of Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Martin Zubimendi or either of his first-choice central defenders, espcially with a Champions League quarter-final and potentially decisive Premier League game against City on the horizon.
Even in light of the current situation, Arsenal should still be able to put out a strong XI against the promotion chasing Saints.
Goalkeeper
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After his latest Wembley nightmare, Arsenal’s cup keeper Kepa will likely be fearing he has played his last competitive game of the season.
The summer signing from Chelsea dropped the sort of clanger that has been almost totally absent from David Raya’s game since he cemented his position as the club’s No.1.
Riccardo Calafiori could come into his own in the run-in (Picture: Getty)
So important are Gabriel and William Saliba to the Arsenal cause that both are certain to be wrapped up in cotton wool for more important assignments.
The France international has been managing an ankle injury throughout the season while Gabriel’s knee saw him withdraw from the Brazil squad last week.
Even without their twin towers of defensive power, Arsenal boast some formidable options with Riccardo Calafiori and Cristhian Mosquera the most obvious candidates to fill the central defensive positions and maintain the left and right-footed balance Arteta craves.
Ben White, fresh from his England return, could well feature at right-back but teenager Marli Salmon, who started in the last round at Mansfield, could well be trusted again while, on the opposite flank, Myles Lewis-Skelly should get some much needed game time after he was suspended for the game at Field Mill.
Midfield
Martin Odegaard could make his return after missing the last seven games (Picture: Getty)
This is where things will get slightly tricker for Arteta, especially if Rice and Zubimendi are deemed in need of more recovery time.
Christian Norgaard should be well capable of anchoring the midfield and Arsenal will hope skipper Martin Odegaard is finally read to make a timely return.
The captain has missed the last seven games and with Eze unavailable, the creative burden will again fall on the Norway international’s shoulders.
Further forward, Kai Havertz could be asked to fill the No.10 role and rotate with Odegaard to give the midfield a bit more of a physical presence when required.
Attack
Max Dowman might be in line to start against Southampton (Picture: Getty)
Viktor Gyokeres should be heading back to Arsenal with renewed confidence after his hat-trick against Ukraine. The summer recruit from Sporting Lisbon still has one World Cup hurdle to jump, but regardless of how he gets on against Poland, he will be in line to start against Southampton.
Arsenal’s options on the flanks are somewhat limited, but Gabriel Martinelli has been a cup specialist this season, while Max Dowman may well get the nod on the right wing in light of his man of the match performance against the Stags in round five.
England threatened to secure silverware a number of times under former manager Sir Gareth Southgate but ultimately fell short, losing two European Championship finals and going deep in two World Cups.
Confidence is high that England can challenge once again under Champions League-winning manager Tuchel, who has the likes of record goalscorer Harry Kane and Premier League Player of the Year contender Declan Rice at his disposal.
Lineker views England as ‘one of the frontrunners’ to win the World Cup but insists they are behind Spain and France in the pecking order.
‘The World Cup is getting very close now,’ ex-England striker Lineker, the 1986 World Cup top goalscorer, said on The Rest is Football podcast.
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Thomas Tuchel takes England training (Picture: Getty)
‘I know Spain are actually the bookies’ favourites, closely followed by England, France, Argentina and Brazil. I think they’re the big five.
‘France have got a hell of a squad, haven’t they? They have an amazing squad, but I’m going to go with Spain.
‘I think they could do a repeat of what they did a decade or so ago and win consecutive tournaments. I mean, they’ve got some players, Spain.
Spain won Euro 2024, beating England in the final (Picture: Getty)
‘I think Spain have to be the team to beat, Obviously, we’d all love England to win. Portugal could be a decent outside bet as well.
‘They will have to control the narrative around [Cristiano] Ronaldo and manage his minutes and see if he accepts that. That will be important for them.
‘But they have got some cracking players. I think it’s a good outside bet, Portugal. Also, don’t rule out Argentina and even Brazil.
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‘But I’m going with Spain. England are definitely one of the frontrunners but I think Spain have to be favourites ahead of us, personally I think France too.
‘I think in recent tournaments, the English team has progressed sufficiently to have a chance of winning it. But I can’t remember any of us actually predicting England to win a tournament for a while.’
Former England defender Micah Richards added: ‘I would always back England, especially with the players they have available.
‘The only slight concern for me is the climate. The climate, guys, you know what it’s like playing in that heat.
‘The players from Spain, Italy and France generally play in better weather and are perhaps better equipped to play in the heat. If I had to pick one, I would go with you and choose Spain.’
In their final international break before the World Cup, a much-changed England team drew 1-1 with Uruguay on Friday. Tuchel’s side face Japan in another friendly on Tuesday.
