Manchester City would receive 40 per cent of any transfer fee if Real Madrid decide to sell Brahim Diaz to Manchester United.
The Spain international, 23, is currently linked with a potential move to United. Brahim's loan spell at Serie A champions AC Milan will end next summer and the playmaker must decide on whether to stay with the Rossoneri, return to the Spanish capital or continue his career elsewhere.
Brahim, who has three years left on his existing deal, came through the ranks at City before completing a £15.5million move to Real in January 2019. As reported at the time, City included an 'anti-United' clause in the deal to deter Real from selling him to the Red Devils.
According to Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport, that clause is still valid. It's also believed that Milan can sign Brahim from Real on a permanent deal for €22m (£19.2m) at the end of this season following three years on loan with Stefano Pioli's side.
If that permanent move goes through, 15 per cent of the transfer fee would be owed to Malaga - the club City signed Brahim from as a 16-year-old - as per an agreement made back in 2015. Real could also re-sign the player for €27m (£23.5m).
Brahim struggled to cement himself in Real's team during his first 18 months at the Bernabeu, scoring just one goal in 15 LaLiga outings. He joined Milan on a one-year loan deal in September 2020 - an agreement that was extended by two more years in July 2021.
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Brahim helped Milan win the Serie A title last season and made a good start to this term, scoring four goals and providing an assist in nine league appearances. His most recent outing was against Monza on Saturday - scoring a brace in the 4-1 win.
City were keen to keep hold of Brahim, who emerged around the same time as Phil Foden. Pep Guardiola is happy to let players leave his team if they wish to. "Like I said many times, I don't want people that don't want to stay here," said Guardiola in January 2019.
"We did with Brahim everything we have done with Phil [Foden and with Jadon [Sancho] - important players and we did absolutely everything. The only one who decides to stay is Phil. We wish him all the best. Real Madrid is not a bad step, so hopefully he can take the minutes he wants and that he didn't want here for many reasons."
If Brahim does eventually join United from Real, it will be the second time the Red Devils have been forced to pay City a transfer fee in recent years. Last July, they paid Guardiola's side around £11m after signing Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund in a £73m deal.
Sancho came through the ranks at City before joining Dortmund in the summer of 2017 and becoming an England international in Germany, scoring 38 goals and providing 51 assists in 104 Bundesliga outings. He also won the DFB-Pokal during his time at Dortmund.
Sancho has since struggled to replicate his form in the Premier League. He's scored just five goals and provided four assists in 39 games for United.
