Fresh from exclusively speaking to Joe Root following his reappointment as England captain, Sky Sports Cricket's Michael Atherton looks further into the move...
Sitting down with Joe Root, he seemed pretty relaxed, optimistic and excited about taking on the captaincy for a second time.
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And there's a fundamental reason for that, I suppose. How many of us in life get a second chance at something?
When you're made captain or you lead an organisation, people always say: 'Make sure you do it your way and don't have any regrets at the end of it because you won't get another go at this.'
Joe Root is getting another go at it.
The key points from Joe Root's interview
Root rules out curfew despite ECB guidelines and tells players to "be adults" when using alcohol
The England captain was "gutted" at the departure of former England Test head coach McCullum departure but has reasserted his excitement for a new era with incoming coach Stephen Fleming, who he admires
Root admits to "over-bowling" Jofra Archer during his first spell as captain but has vowed to protect England's "generational talent" this time around
Root has refused to rule out a return for Ben Stokes for the 2027 Ashes
Jacob Bethell to miss Pakistan series as Ollie Pope returns
The Ashes: England vs Australia 2027 dates confirmed
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How many of us would love to retrace our steps and have another go at something that we did well or not so well the first time around? He's got that opportunity now.
He's got a chance to bring all his wisdom and his knowledge and perhaps right some of the mistakes he made first time around.
I mean, he had a good time of it as England captain. Nobody has won more games in the role; equally, nobody has lost as many, so it wasn't a completely smooth ride for him.
The hope is that he can bring a lot of that knowledge and wisdom to bear the second time around.
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Root gives his first interview since being reappointed England Test captain
He will want to do it a little bit differently, because you've got to think that between his first coming and his second coming as captain, there's been four years of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum driving an England team to play in a way that probably no other England team in the history of the game has played.
Root is coming in on the back of that.
A lot of our interview is about how he wants to keep certain things of Bazball - if you want to call it that - but also tweak some things and put his own stamp on it.
This has now got to be Root's team again, not Stokes' team. So the transition to that will be a fascinating one.
'Captaincy won't affect Root like last time, nor his batting'
I asked him whether it was out of a desire to do it or a duty because there are very few other options.
You have to remember that when he gave up the captaincy the first time around, he talked about having an unhealthy relationship with it, so I put a couple of questions about that to him.
Is he certain he won't be damaged by the captaincy again? A lot of the answers revolve around the COVID years.
He had to lead England during a couple of COVID years, and he felt that had a particular negative impact on him.
Of course, it is a very different time now.
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Speaking after the New Zealand Test win in 2022, Root explained why he'd taken the decision to step-away from Test captaincy
And I'm confident the pressures of captaincy won't impact how he performs with the bat. It didn't the first time around.
Although in the interview he says he felt it impacted him initially, he actually felt that, in the last year or 18 months of his captaincy, he was batting as well as ever. The numbers suggest he did pretty well as a batting captain; I think he averaged 46 during that time.
The biggest line is about the curfew, which we put out there. And I'm very happy that he's done that.
Curfews are a crazy way to run a grown-up, professional sporting team. I'm very glad that, between him and new Test coach Stephen Fleming, they've sat down and said: 'Let's treat these players as grown-ups.'
If they step out of line and mess up, there is going to be consequences. Your expectations have to be clear to the players, but treat people like grown-ups.
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Sky Sports News correspondent Geraint Hughes is at Lord's and provides background details on the appointments of Stephen Fleming as head coach and Root as captain to the England test set-up
England vs Pakistan Test series fixtures
First Test (Headingley) - Wednesday August 19 - Sunday August 23 (first ball 11am)
Second Test (Lord's) - Thursday August 27 - Monday August 31 (first ball 11am)
Third Test (Edgbaston) - Wednesday September 9 - Sunday September 13 (first ball 11am)
Bangladesh's bowlers overshadowed Australia's Big Four getting back together on day one of the first Test as the hosts were dismissed for 198 and Hasan Mahmud took a career-best 6-55.
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Bangladesh's top-order batters then combined to reach 96-1 at stumps and cut the first-innings deficit to 102.
Bangladesh lost their last Test match against Zimbabwe in June by an innings and 85 runs but in Darwin on Thursday made a dream start to their tour of Australia, where they are playing their first Test series since 2003.
Australia vs Bangladesh: First Test, Day One scorecard
Australia are beginning a schedule of at least 20 Tests over the coming 12 months, with tours of New Zealand, South Africa, India and England - where The Ashes begins at Trent Bridge from June 18. Steve Smith admitted their start against Bangladesh was "not our best"
"Still plenty of cricket to be played, obviously," Smith added.
"It would have been nice to have taken a few more [wickets]. So, hopefully we start well in the morning, pick up a few early ones and put pressure on."
Mahmud starred for the visitors with consistent line and length, striking in his sixth and seventh overs to remove openers Jake Weatherald (23) and Travis Head (22) after Australia won the toss and raced to 45 without loss on a green-tinged pitch.
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Bangladesh's Hasan Mahmud made the difference with the ball on day one
From there, Mahmud and fellow pacemen Taskin Ahmed (2-55) and Ebadot Hossain (2-39) dominated the first two sessions, bowling with discipline to exploit the conditions and get on top of a batting line-up that was held together primarily by Smith's defiant 71.
Smith was the next-to-last wicket to fall, advancing at Mahmud before top-edging a high catch to wicketkeeper Litton Das, bringing an innings featuring seven boundaries and a six to an end.
The day started positively for the hosts, with skipper Pat Cummins winning the toss. Playing just his second Test in 13 months, he reunited with fellow pacemen Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc and veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon in a frontline attack long known in Australia as the Big Four.
A partisan crowd was in full support of Darwin-born Weatherald but he never really settled and needlessly swiped at a ball from Mahmud. Head was out soon after, chopping on a delivery that was bowled from around the wicket as Australia slipped to 52-2.
Ebadot had Marnus Labuschagne (1) caught by Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, and could have dismissed Smith early too, but a chance at third slip was put down.
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Bangladesh took a full toll on the opening morning, restricting the hosts to 74-4 when all rounder Cameron Green (13) was out immediately before the lunch interval.
Ebadot dismissed Alex Carey (19) after the break and Taskin bowled Beau Webster (12).
Hasan had Cummins (9) and Starc (1) out edging and wrapped up the innings in 53 overs with the wickets of Smith and Lyon.
Despite having their first-choice bowling attack back together, Australia were unable to take more than one Bangladesh wicket, with Mominul Haque (35) and Tanzid Hasan (32) going on to share an unbeaten 60-run stand.
'Opportunity here that may have been missed' - Ponting questions Australia selectors
Speaking to Australia's Channel 7, former captain Ricky Ponting said: "Look, what's the state of Australian cricket?
"This has been a very, very successful cricket team. (But) right now, there are a couple of chinks in the armour and the selectors decided to stick with what they know.
"At the end of last season, I thought the time was right now to blood a couple of youngsters into these two Test matches. I said (Campbell) Kellaway and (Ollie) Peake were the ones that I wanted to have.
"So they decided not to do that. But my worry is, when do they do that? Are you going to debut these guys in South Africa against (Kagiso) Rabada and (Marco) Jansen and co?
"I think that would be a whole lot harder. So I just feel there's an opportunity here that may have been missed."
Welcome to Dev's Digest, a regular Sky Sports column in which Asian Football Award winner Dev Trehan delivers exclusive news and reflects on some of the key developments for British South Asians in Football.
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Indian football chiefs are increasingly confident that diaspora footballers from Britain will be allowed to play for the national team, Sky Sports News can exclusively reveal.
Current rules prevent Indian-heritage footballers abroad from playing for the national side unless they surrender their overseas passport.
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That has prevented British Indians from earning international recognition and the opportunity to help India break back into the world's top 100 FIFA-ranked nations.
But one senior official has told Sky Sports News he is "convinced" the path will be cleared to allow eligible overseas footballers to represent India.
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After the All India Football Federation set up a task force to assess the status of players of Indian origin who could represent the national team, Arunava Chaudhuri told Sky Sports News’ Dev Trehan he thinks four or five British Indian lads could get into the squad
Reacting exclusively to Sky Sports News, former Mumbai City FC chief operating officer Arunava Chaudhuri said: "We are closer than we've ever been to seeing Overseas Citizens of India representing the Blue Tigers.
"Diaspora footballers from Europe can take the Indian team to another level.
"We're now talking about something that potentially extends beyond football, with the next Commonwealth Games coming to Ahmedabad, and their bid for the 2036 Olympic Games."
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Watch some of Michael Chopra’s best goals for clubs including Newcastle, Sunderland and Cardiff City
Sky Sports News has followed the story of Indian-origin British footballers trying to play for India for more than a decade.
In 2014, former Newcastle striker Michael Chopra told Sky Sports News he was ready to play for India and that cricket great Sachin Tendulkar was ready to help him fulfil that desire.
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Former Wolves' capain Danny Batth is half-Indian and told Sky Sports News in 2017 that would love to play for India
In 2017, Danny Batth, who has just signed for Millwall and whose father was in born in Punjab, told Sky Sports News senior correspondent Rob Dorsett about his desire to play for India.
West Ham chief Virani targets Premier League return
West Ham interim chief executive officer Karim Virani wants the club to continue driving positive change, but admits the main goal is to make an immediate return to the Premier League.
Sunday 16th August 3:45pm
Kick off 4:00pm
The Hammers beat Leeds United in their final game last season, but it wasn't enough to prevent them from finishing 18th and suffering relegation.
"As we look ahead to the new [league] season, it's less than a week now and we have our first match, which has come around incredibly quickly," Virani said.
Dev's Digest: Singh on set, Mannu and Malik on the move
British South Asians in Football: Latest News
"The strength of the West Ham family in terms of supporting our team is going to be so crucial to our objectives as a football club - and everyone is aware we have one primary objective this year, which is to get out of the Championship and back to the Premier League.
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West Ham CEO Karim Virani in conversation with Sky Sports News' Dev Trehan (Photo: Vijay Bedesha)
"While it becomes very easy to quickly focus on the football, we should never forget the responsibility we have as a football club to drive positive action and impact off the pitch too.
"Personally I'm incredibly passionate about West Ham being at the forefront of championing equality and celebrating inclusion, and ensuring all of our matches - men's, women's and academy - are environments where everyone feels welcome."
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Kevin Nolan and Darren Moore tell the EFL show why Jarrod Bowen is key for West Ham's hopes for an instant return to the Premier League.
Virani was speaking at a West Ham United and Inclusive Irons event with Desi Ballers to close South Asian Heritage Month.
The event - also attended by club ambassadors Matt Jarvis and Bobby Seagull - shone a light on West Ham's work in the community.
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The 2025/26 British South Asians in Football Team of the Season was also showcased on the night.
Bhatia and Bezos close in on Liverpool stake
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Amit Bhatia is closing in on acquiring a stake in Liverpool Football Club
Sky News understands a consortium led by British Indian entrepreneur Amit Bhatia is closing in on a deal to buy a roughly one-third stake in Liverpool.
Bhatia leads an investor group that includes Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin.
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Sky Sports Chief Correspondent Kaveh Solhekol talks through the deal to buy roughly a third stake in Liverpool Football Club by the Amit Bhatia and Jeff Bezos consortium
Their investment in Liverpool will reportedly value the club at £4.4bn ($6bn), making it one of the sport's richest-ever deals.
Sky Sports News has contacted Liverpool and FSG for comment.
Dhanda's dream debut
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Yan Dhanda recalls his Swansea debut in 2018 where he scored 30 seconds after coming on against Sheffield United with his very first touch in professional football.
The EFL kicks off again on Friday, presenting the perfect opportunity to look back at one of my favourite Championship moments, which happened eight years ago on the opening weekend of the season.
We often hear about dream debuts in football, but it's fair to say Yan Dhanda's first appearance for Swansea - and indeed his first taste of senior professional senior football - was exactly the stuff that dreams are made of.
It was a sunny afternoon at Brammall Lane, with the game locked at 1-1 in the closing stages of Graham Potter's first game as Swansea boss, away at Sheffield United.
Nobody, not even Dhanda, could have imagined what would happen next.
"It was crazy. I'd done really well in pre-season. I was only 19 but I was confident. I wanted to play. We got to Sheffield and I knew I was on the bench," Dhanda told me for Sky Sports News in 2018.
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Watch all the angles! Yan Dhanda scored directly from a corner against Hibernian during his time as a Ross County player
"All night I'd been dreaming of coming on and scoring. I was texting my cousin the night before and saying imagine if I come on and score on my debut. It's the dream.
Dev's Digest: Singh on set, Mannu and Malik on the move
British South Asians in Football: Latest News
"I went to sleep and kept waking up. It was the first time I've ever been in a pro game. All I could think was coming on and scoring.
"Come the game, I was on the bench for the first time in a professional game. It's the Championship, I'm sitting there thinking this is fast, this is harder than I thought.
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Yan Dhanda is now at Hearts
"It was late in the game when Graham Potter told me I was coming on and I was buzzing - 30 seconds later, the ball fell to me in a good position where I backed myself.
"I just hit it and then it was a mad blur. My dad and cousin were in the stands right behind that goal. It was honestly the best feeling."
Young guns on the move
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Fulham youngster Farhaan Ali Wahid has joined National League side Boreham Wood on loan.
Ali Wahid is set for his first taste of senior football, after 17 goal contributions in 21 PL2 appearances for Fulham last season saw him nominated for PL2 Player of the Season.
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Elsewhere, Riya Mannu has completed her move to West Bromwich Albion Women, while Pakistan international Zahmena Malik has joined Actonians.
Both moves were exclusively revealed by Sky Sports News in last month's edition of Dev's Digest.
Mahmood and Iqbal go head-to-head for major award
Dr Zaf Iqbal and Pakistan international footballer Mariam Mahmood have been shortlisted for Sports Personality of the Year at the Asian Achievers Awards.
Dr Zaf left Arsenal at the end of last season after helping the Gunners end their 22-year wait for a Premier League title, also reaching their first Champions League final in 20 years.
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He is one of English football's most respected doctors, having worked at Liverpool, Tottenham and Crystal Palace, and previously serving as chair of the Premier League Doctors Group and co-chair of the FA Medical Society.
Dr Zaf played a pivotal role in a breakthrough moment during the 2020/21 season, when Sky Sports News revealed Leicester's Monday Night Football clash with Crystal Palace had been paused mid-game to allow players to open their fast during the holy period of Ramadan in a Premier League first.
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It was agreed pre-match ahead of the 2021 game between Leicester City and Crystal Palace that play would be paused to allow Wesley Fofana and Cheikhou Kouyate to open their Ramadan fast
This has now become a norm, with Sky Sports News exclusively revealing in 2023 that match officials across the leagues had been asked to find a natural pause in play to allow players to open their Ramadan fast during evening matches.
Mariam Mahmood has enjoyed a breakthrough 12 months, making her Pakistan debut last summer and going on to score three goals in her first four international appearances before joining Wrexham.
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Mahmood helped Wrexham win a league and cup double last term and qualify for European competition for the first time in their history.
Meanwhile, nominations for the 2026 Asian Football Awards close next week.
Members of the public can nominate on the Asian Football Awards website across a range of categories including the professional game, non-league, grassroots and coaching.
British South Asians in football
For more stories, features and videos, visit our ground-breaking South Asians in football page on skysports.com and get in touch with us here to have your say. %!s()
Former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara wants Spurs to sign Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford.
Speaking on Sky Sports' Tottenham summer special podcast, O'Hara believes Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi is the "perfect man-manager" for Rashford, whose Man Utd future remains uncertain.
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Sky Sports News understands a new left-sided forward is a priority for Tottenham amid interest in Manchester City's Savinho and Liverpool's Cody Gakpo.
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You can listen to the podcast or watch the show on YouTube to hear the full thoughts of ex-Spurs midfielder Jamie O'Hara and Sky Sports News'Michael Bridge and Lyall Thomas on Tottenham's summer so far.
O'Hara said: "I like Savinho. What I've seen of him, there have been bright sparks. It hasn't massively worked for him at Manchester City, but he's obviously a talented player.
"I like Gakpo, but the problem with him is he maybe needs four or five chances to score one, but he has got something about him. I wouldn't be disappointed in the signing - he's a player who I wouldn't mind.
"I just don't know why we don't go for Marcus Rashford. I really think that Spurs should just go, how much do you want? How much can we get him for?
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Speaking on the Sky Sports Premier League podcast, Michael Bridge and Lyall Thomas look at why now is a good time for Cristian Romero to make a move from Tottenham Hotspur to Atletico Madrid.
"I know he's on £350,000 a week, and obviously Spurs potentially can't afford that, but he's such a brilliant player.
"If you get him at it with a point to prove, I just think he's still one of the best players around.
"If he stays at Man Utd, I think he'll play, so I just don't know why we've not been interested in him."
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'De Zerbi can get best out of Rashford'
Rashford has returned to the Man Utd squad, having spent last season on loan at Barcelona, who opted against signing him despite scoring 14 goals and providing 14 assists in 47 appearances as they won LaLiga.
O'Hara feels the 28-year-old would fit the "bomba" signing De Zerbi teased last month, with it understood the Italian wants to sign at least one wide attacker in the final weeks of the summer window.
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Rashford has returned to the Man Utd squad. Credit: @rachaelandimogenmufc
"I think De Zerbi is the perfect man-manager for someone like Rashford," O'Hara said. "He's a manager who will get the best out of him.
"I think he'd be a good signing for us. Maybe he doesn't want to sign for Tottenham, or maybe he may be looking elsewhere.
"But the left side is something we still need to address. Mathys Tel is a decent young player, but he isn't the answer.
"We have got to sign someone who's a top-drawer player, who gets us to another level and really pushes us on.
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Rashford's Man Utd future was discussed on Sky Sports' Man Utd summer special podcast
"If we've got the money, and it looks like we have, and De Zerbi's come out and said we're signing another big player, well, let's go and make something happen."
Spurs have spent £237m on six new players this summer, but their most recent signing - the club-record £100m arrival of Sandro Tonali - came over a month ago.
It has led to concerns that the club's recruitment drive has stalled, with the forward line still in need of reinforcement ahead of the window closing in just under three weeks.
Sky Sports News reporter Michael Bridge told the Tottenham summer special podcast: "Tottenham know what they need, and from the conversations I continue to have, and what I've seen so far this summer, I'm confident they'll get that done.
"I've been impressed with the midfield signings, and I've got that feeling from De Zerbi in his interviews this summer that he knows, and he's got a good feeling about what's to come.
"He has been so hands-on, and Spurs have said, 'Keep us up, you get the keys', and he has got the keys, so let's see if he opens the door on those forwards."
'I'd be disappointed if Spence is sold'
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James Savundra and Mark McAdam explain the reasons why Spurs have decided to sell Djed Spence to Inter Milan
Meanwhile, Rashford's England team-mate Djed Spence looks set to leave Tottenham this summer.
The 26-year-old is closing in on a move to Inter Milan in a deal that could be worth up to £30m.
Spurs summer special podcast analyses Romero's imminent Atletico exit
But O'Hara has questioned the defender's potential exit, which would leave Pedro Porro as the club's only recognised right-back.
He said of Spence's possible departure: "I'd actually be disappointed to let him leave. I just don't think that we should let him go.
"He can play in different areas, multiple areas - left-back, right-back and on the wing. He's athletic, he's strong, he's decent on the ball.
"Maybe he lacks a little bit going forward in terms of his attributes. But if you look at him not being a starter, he's definitely one that you're going to use. Porro or (Andy) Robertson could get injured, and you can't rely on (Destiny) Udogie's fitness.
"If Porro picks up an injury, who is the guy who's going to step in there? It can't be Archie Gray. We've got to allow Gray to develop into a midfield player; that's what we've signed him for.
"So, if you're going to get rid of him [Spence], you're going to have to bring someone else in.
"I wouldn't be gutted if we sold him, but I'd be disappointed if we let him go."
Should Spence seal a move to Serie A, Sky Sports News understands Tottenham will look to add another right-back before the window shuts on September 1.
Sky Sports News senior football news editor Lyall Thomas told the Tottenham summer special podcast: "If Spence leaves, then I think Spurs should be looking at a right-back who's a little bit younger and more of a development project.
"Porro's one of the few players at Spurs who you can bank on playing every game - he hasn't got that injury record that others have got.
"He's a World Cup winner and if you've got him as your leading right-back then having him as a mentor to develop would be a good shout."
For the full thoughts of Jamie O'Hara, Michael Bridge and Lyall Thomas, including analysis of the Spurs captaincy and expectations for the upcoming season, listen to the Tottenham summer special podcast as a podcast, or watch on YouTube.%!s()
Manchester City have rejected a new £55m bid from Barcelona for Rodri.
Last week Barcelona had an initial offer in the region of £40m knocked back. On Wednesday, Sky Sports News reported that Barca were expected to raise their offer to between £50m and £60m, but their new offer is still not enough for City.
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Barcelona remain determined to sign Rodri and are considering their next move.
City are seeking upwards of £60m for the 30-year-old midfielder, who has entered the final year of his deal. Talks remain ongoing.
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Rodri's positional performance in the Premier League last season
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Sky Sports News has reported this summer that City do not want to sell Spain's World Cup-winning captain and instead want to agree a new contract with him. However, if Rodri asks to leave, then they would not stand in his way.
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Man City in talks with Saudi side over Reijnders sale
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Tijjani Reijnders could be set to leave Man City with talks over an exit under way
Man Cityare talking to Saudi Arabian club Al Qadsiah about selling Tijjani Reijnders to them.
Advanced and positive talks are ongoing for a package in the region of £51.3m (€60m).
Reijnders is viewed as a world-class and peak-age player by Qadsiah, who are keen to strengthen in midfield ahead of their first Asian Champions League campaign.
Al Qadsiah are also about to move into their new Aramco Stadium.
It means City could lose two central midfielders but they also want to sign potentially two, with interest in Enzo Fernandez and Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Chelsea have given City a deadline of Friday 5pm to make a £120m bid for Enzo while talks remain ongoing with Lille for Bouaddi. %!s()
