The writing was on the wall. Well, on the shirt. Everyone pretty much already knew that Rodri was going to leave Atletico Madrid, who had set a €70 million buyout clause that was more invitation than deterrent, and that was confirmed when the Spanish club recently presented Marcos Llorente as their new signing. Not just because Llorente too is a deep midfielder but because there he was, standing there grinning with his new shirt, no. 14 on the back.
Rodri's number.
Well, it was his number: on Wednesday, he was confirmed as a Manchester City player after representatives from the club deposited the €70m at the league on Wednesday.