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In its quest to replace Rodri, injured and out until the end of the season, Manchester City will have to rack their brains. In recent weeks, it has been rumored that the English club was going to recruit internally, essentially banking on its existing strengths embodied by the returning İlkay Gündoğan, Mateo Kovačić, Matheus Nunes or even Rico Lewis, regularly repositioned in the middle by Guardiola.
For its part, the Italian press recently suggested that the Skyblues were interested in Italian midfielder Samuele Ricci. Author of an astonishing start to the season with Torino, the 23-year-old player was rewarded with a call-up to the Italian selection in September. During this gathering, he also presented his business card to Lyon, with a recital during the victory of the Squadra Azzurra against the Blues (3-1). A performance which reassured transalpine observers in the idea that Ricci embodied the Italy of tomorrow.
Real Madrid and Ancelotti are also on him
At a time when the market for versatile defensive midfielders has rarely been so uncompetitive in Europe, this emergence of Ricci can therefore inevitably arouse the interest of the biggest clubs. And this Friday, Tutto Sport thus informs us of the interest of a second giant, namely Real Madrid. According to the transalpine daily, Carlo Ancelotti has been following the player since his return to Madrid in 2021, when he was still playing at Empoli. Madrid scouts were thus able to observe its development until France – Italy, in September, with a final positive report issued to Florentino Pérez.
As explained Tutto Sportthe ball would today be in the court of the boss of Real, while Ancelotti has already given the green light for the arrival of the player next summer. If The Guardian speaks of a price between 35 and 40 million euros, this could still be expected to increase, especially if Manchester City also intends to take action in the coming months. On Madrid’s side, the trend is more towards an offensive next summer, while Guardiola would like to bring the player back in January.
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team.
 
 As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers.
 
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