Rodri went under the knife on Monday for a back operation that will keep him out of the Community Shield and Manchester City’s opening Premier League fixture, Sky Sports reported.

The recovery has not slowed Real Madrid down. Sky Sports News says the Spanish champions are pressing ahead with a bid worth between £43m and £51m for the Ballon d’Or winner.

The catch, according to a SportBible report on Friday citing The Sun, is that Madrid intend to raise part of that money by cashing in on Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Manchester United are the club expected to take him.

Real Madrid’s shift on Tchouaméni

The 26-year-old French midfielder was considered untouchable at the Bernabéu earlier in the summer.

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Get French Football News reported on 8 July, citing RMC Sport, that Tchouaméni had agreed a contract extension tying him to Real Madrid until 2031, though no formal announcement followed.

Madrid’s stance has since softened. With Rodri available and Mourinho reshaping the squad, the Spanish club are now said to be willing to listen to offers, with £68m the figure floated.

Tchouaméni, signed from Monaco for the same fee in 2022, has been offered a five-year deal by United, AS journalist José Félix Díaz told TeamTalk. Wages remain the sticking point.

United’s third midfielder of the window

Tchouaméni would be Michael Carrick’s third central-midfield addition of a busy rebuild.

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United confirmed the signing of Youri Tielemans after triggering a €41m release clause at Aston Villa, following the £48m arrival of Andrey Santos from Chelsea.

Carrick was handed the head-coach job permanently in May after a strong finish as interim, and INEOS have already committed roughly €100m to the middle of his team.

Madrid’s summer and City’s price

Real Madrid’s spending has been aggressive too.

Bernardo Silva arrived on a free from Manchester City, Ibrahima Konaté on a free from Liverpool, and Marc Cucurella from Chelsea in a deal worth up to €55m, with Denzel Dumfries completing the quartet. Rodri would be Alonso’s marquee midfielder.

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City are not making it easy. Managing Madrid reports that Enzo Maresca’s side want at least €80m, well above the initial Madrid valuation, and the surgery only complicates matters. Rodri has one year left on his City contract.

Jamie Carragher, on Sky Sports, was blunt about City’s position.

“£40 to £50m? If you’re Manchester City, what’s the point in selling them?” he said. “You might as well just keep them for the extra year.”

For now the interlocking deal exists only on paper.

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Rodri is recovering from surgery. Tchouaméni is still a Real Madrid player. United have made him an offer and are waiting on an answer.

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