Real Madrid Pursues Rodri as Mourinho Insists on New Midfielder

For weeks, Rodri’s name has floated around the corridors of power at Valdebebas, a long-term idea rather than an urgent mission. That changed the moment Real Madrid wrapped up the signing of RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande.

With Diomande’s arrival effectively done, the spotlight swings straight back onto the Manchester City midfielder. The pause button has been hit, now it’s play again.

According to reports in Spain, Real Madrid have already restarted the process to bring Rodri to the Bernabéu and are preparing to place an offer on City’s table as soon as Diomande is officially announced.

Mourinho’s non‑negotiable

Inside the club, there is no ambiguity about where this push is coming from. Jose Mourinho has made it clear: a new midfielder this summer is non-negotiable. Not a luxury, not a “nice to have”. A condition.

In his eyes, Rodri is the ideal piece. A leader in the middle of the pitch, tactically intelligent, able to dictate the tempo and still offer creativity between the lines. It is the profile Mourinho has been asking for since his return, and the club, sources say, remain optimistic about getting it done.

One major obstacle has already shifted. Florentino Perez, initially seen as the main brake on a move for Rodri, has now given his approval. The president’s green light removes the last internal barrier. What remains is the formal offer and the negotiation with Manchester City.

City open the door – at a price

On the face of it, selling Rodri just after a Golden Ball-winning World Cup campaign sounds unthinkable. He has been central to City’s success and the heartbeat of Spain’s midfield on the biggest stage.

But the situation has a hard edge: Rodri is entering the final year of his contract. City, fully aware of that ticking clock, are open to a transfer if the proposal matches their valuation. At present, they rate him between €50 million and €60 million.

For Real Madrid, that fee is significant but not prohibitive, especially for a player they want to install as the “brain” of the team next season. The belief at the Bernabéu is that talks will move quickly once the first formal bid lands, with no major hurdles expected on the player’s side. Rodri is understood to have his heart set on a return to Spain.

The midfield general Mourinho craves

The numbers from last season only tell part of the story. Rodri made 21 Premier League appearances, scoring once, but his influence went far beyond the scoresheet. He averaged 1.2 key passes per game and completed 90% of his passes, a picture of control and reliability.

For Spain at the World Cup, he was even more. The anchor, the organiser, the one who set the rhythm and calmed the storm. Described as the heart and soul of his national team’s midfield, he has established himself as one of the elite midfielders in world football.

That is exactly the kind of presence Mourinho wants at the base of his side. A player who can lead, adapt, and shape matches from the centre circle.

Now the equation is simple. Perez has stepped aside, Mourinho is pushing, City are listening, and Rodri is keen. The next few days will reveal whether Real Madrid can turn that alignment into a signing that could redefine their midfield for years.