Reijnders Faces Decision as Saudi Bid Raises Doubts on Man City Future

Tijjani Reijnders could be heading for the exit at Manchester City just a year after arriving, with Saudi Pro League side Al Qadsiah pushing hard to lure him away.

Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano and other reports state that Al Qadsiah have tabled a €60 million bid for the Dutch midfielder and already struck an agreement with City. The last piece of the puzzle is Reijnders himself. His approval is still missing.

And that is where the story gets complicated.

Money in the desert, doubts in Manchester

At 28, Reijnders is in his prime. The offer from Saudi Arabia promises a lavish salary, one that would comfortably eclipse what he could earn in England or Turkey. Al Qadsiah can pay him like a star.

But the midfielder is said to be unsure. A move to the desert now would change the trajectory of his career. Nottingham Forest and Galatasaray have also registered their interest, giving him more traditional European options if he decides to stay on this side of the footballing map.

So he hesitates. The money is clear. The path is not.

Valuable, but not untouchable under Guardiola

Reijnders’ situation at City is nuanced. Pep Guardiola used him regularly last season, but he never quite became one of the untouchables.

He still delivered: 50 appearances in all competitions, directly involved in 15 goals – seven scored, eight assisted. Those are strong numbers for a midfielder operating in a squad stacked with quality.

Yet City’s evolution under new head coach Enzo Maresca changes the equation.

Maresca’s crowded midfield

Maresca inherits a midfield overflowing with options, especially in the central and attacking roles where Reijnders does his best work.

The club have just spent €135 million on Elliot Anderson, a statement signing in those very zones. Around him, Maresca can also call on Matheus Nunes, Nico Gonzalez, Mateo Kovacic, Rayan Cherki, Phil Foden and Claudio Echeverri. It is a deep, versatile group.

In that context, a €60 million offer for a player who is important but not irreplaceable suddenly looks very tempting for a club that constantly refreshes its squad.

Rodri question hangs over City’s plans

Hovering over all of this is the uncertainty around Rodri. Barcelona are heavily courting the Spanish world and European champion, and there is still no agreement over a transfer fee.

If Rodri does leave, the whole midfield picture at City shifts again. The 10-time Premier League champions would almost certainly move back into the market.

Enzo Fernandez is viewed as the preferred target. Maresca knows him well from their time together at Chelsea and sees him as a ready-made solution. But Chelsea are playing hardball: according to The Athletic, they have set a deadline for City and Real Madrid. Any club wanting Fernandez must put €140 million on the table by Friday evening.

So City wait. Reijnders weighs up his options. Rodri’s future hangs in the balance. And somewhere between Manchester, Riyadh and Barcelona, the shape of City’s next midfield era is being decided.