Soccer- Manchester City pay Atletico midfielder Rodri's buyout clause

La Liga club Atletico Madrid have confirmed that Premier League champions Manchester City have paid the 70 million euro ($78.96 million) buyout clause for their Spanish international holding midfielder Rodri.

The 23-year-old is one of City manager Pep Guardiola's main transfer targets this season, with City in the market for a successor to their 34-year-old Brazilian defensive midfielder Fernandinho.

"Manchester City has paid the buyout clause on behalf of the player," Atletico said in a statement https://en.atleticodemadrid.com/noticias/manchester-city-pays-rodrigo-s-buyout-clause-at-laliga-headquarters. "The player has therefore unilaterally terminated his contract with our club, which ran until June 30, 2023."