In a clear snub to neighbours Manchester United, rivals City have inserted a 40 per cent sell-on clause in Brahim Díaz’s £15.5m impending transfer to Real Madrid should the 19-year-old winger move on to “any other Manchester club”.
Díaz, who joined City in 2015, is understood to be on the verge of joining Real in a £22m deal if £6.5m of add-ons are triggered. The sell-on clause falls to 15 per cent if Díaz is subsequently sold to any team not based in Manchester.
City are reluctant to lose the 19-year-old but understand why the Spaniard is attracted to Real, together with his view that the competition offered by Riyad Mahrez, Leroy Sané and Raheem Sterling means playing regular football at City is difficult.
City are said to be "delighted" with the financial package for a player who is out of contract in the summer. Díaz will follow Jadon Sancho as the second of three bright academy-reared prospects to leave recently.
While Sancho departed for Borussia Dortmund in the summer 2016, the third, Phil Foden, is an established first-team squad member.
Elsewhere, Oliver Burke has joined Celtic from West Bromwich Albion on loan until the end of the season and striker Ross McCormack has joined Motherwell on loan from Aston Villa. – Guardian service
