Real Madrid Pursues Rodri as Mourinho's Demands Intensify
For weeks, Rodri’s name has hovered around the Bernabéu offices. A priority, then a pause, and now very much back on the table.
Real Madrid briefly parked their interest while they fast‑tracked a deal for RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande, a signing that is now virtually wrapped up. With that operation all but sealed, the spotlight has swung straight back onto Manchester City’s midfield metronome.
According to MARCA, Madrid have already restarted the machinery to bring the Spaniard home and plan to lodge a formal offer with City as soon as Diomande’s arrival is officially completed.
Mourinho’s non‑negotiable
Inside the club, there is no ambiguity about who is driving this. Jose Mourinho has made it clear: a new midfielder this summer is non‑negotiable. In his eyes, Rodri is the ideal piece.
The Portuguese coach wants a leader in the middle of the pitch, someone who dictates rhythm, plugs gaps, and still has the courage to play forward. Rodri ticks every box on that list – organiser, controller, creative outlet. The kind of player who doesn’t just fit into a system but becomes the system.
Initially, the main resistance reportedly came from the very top. Florentino Perez was seen as the obstacle to any move for the City star. That stance has shifted. The club president has now given the green light to pursue the deal, clearing the way for Madrid to turn admiration into a concrete bid.
All that remains is the formal offer and the negotiation that follows.
City open the door – at a price
On the face of it, selling Rodri right after a Golden Ball‑winning World Cup campaign sounds like something close to madness. Yet the situation at Manchester City has its own logic.
The midfielder is in the final year of his contract. City, aware of both his market value and the risk of losing him for nothing, are prepared to listen. The stance from the Etihad is pragmatic: they will consider a transfer if the fee is right.
For now, the English champions value him between €50 million and €60 million. That bracket reflects both his contractual situation and his status as one of the most complete midfielders in world football.
Madrid believe the deal is there to be done. The club are optimistic not only because of City’s openness, but because Rodri himself is understood to be keen on a return to Spain. That alignment of interests rarely lasts long in the market; it tends to lead to movement.
The brain Madrid want
Inside the Bernabéu, the plan is straightforward: Perez and his directors see Rodri as the brain of next season’s team. The player to knit together a squad full of talent, to give shape and sense to the attacking waves Madrid want to unleash.
His numbers last season in the Premier League underline his profile. Across 21 league appearances, he scored once, but his value lay far deeper than goals. He averaged 1.2 key passes per game and completed 90% of his passes – figures that speak of control, security, and constant involvement.
On the international stage, his influence has been even more striking. Rodri was the heart and soul of Spain’s midfield at the recent World Cup, anchoring the side with a blend of composure and authority that confirmed his status among the very best in his position.
Now the equation is simple. Mourinho wants him. Perez has stepped aside as a barrier and stepped in as an ally. City are listening. Rodri is looking homeward.
The next offer Madrid send to Manchester will say a lot about how serious they are – and how far they are willing to go to hand Mourinho the midfield general he considers indispensable.
