Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca has admitted the club face a fight to keep hold of star Rodri – with the midfielder intent on a move to Real Madrid.

City are primed for an approach from Real, where there is growing support for the move on the back of the 30-year-old leading Spain to World Cup glory.

There has as yet been no contact between the clubs but Rodri has just one year left on his City contract and has not accepted terms on a new one offered in April.

He wants to return to Madrid, where he represented Real’s rivals Atletico before joining City, for family reasons. It is understood his agents met Madrid officials in the Pozuelo district of the city earlier this week.

And at his unveiling as Pep Guardiola’s successor on Friday, former Chelsea boss Maresca admitted ‘every manager’ would want to sign Rodri.

‘Around big players there are always speculations so I am not worried about that,’ said Maresca. ‘I think it is normal, also because they won the World Cup, because he is one of the best players.

‘I think every manager wants to have Rodri because he is a top player. But now, surgery on Monday. He needs a holiday, he needs to rest and recover and then he will be back with us.’

City would demand a hefty fee should Madrid formalise their approach, but have not given up on keeping their man.

They have already signed Elliot Anderson and are working on an £85million deal for Lille midfield prodigy Ayyoub Bouaddi.

As the Daily Mail Sport reported earlier this week, new Real boss Jose Mourinho has been brought in to eradicate a perceived divisiveness in the Madrid dressing room and has already pushed for senior players to be recruited. Rodri would fit that bill.

Premier League clubs are on alert, knowing the knock-on effect of Rodri’s signing could see Aurelien Tchouameni’s chances becoming limited and his France compatriot Eduardo Camavinga could also yet depart.

Manchester United have a long-held interest in Tchouameni but have not made an enquiry since May and are aware that the 26-year-old would be very expensive and difficult to place in their current wage structure.

Camavinga has been considered by City, Chelsea and Arsenal. Despite his experience, he is still only 23. He could represent greater value but key is whether either would leave Madrid.