Rodri and Real Madrid, a 24-hour solution
The club’s leaders were reluctant for eleven months, but the idea has shifted: what was an emphatic ‘no’ has matured and evolved into a ‘yes’.
Rodri (30) has this goal etched into him, and he is doing everything possible to ensure it ends the way he wants. Real Madrid supporters also hope the midfielder’s dream becomes reality. For eleven months, the club’s hierarchy was reluctant, but the situation has changed: what had been an emphatic “no” before the 2026 FIFA World Cup and during its opening matches has evolved into what now appears to be a definitive “yes”, provided the financial terms are right. José Mourinho, meanwhile, would be delighted to add the World Cup Golden Ball winner to his squad.
Beyond the leadership and control he displayed across nine World Cup matches, the wave of public support has pushed the midfielder even closer to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. His performances in North America effectively settled two issues that had occasionally been questioned.
The first was Rodri’s physical and footballing condition. The level he reached at the World Cup left no doubt that the defensive midfielder has returned to his best. He once again looks like the player who won the Ballon d’Or in 2024. As for any lingering reservations among supporters because of his years at Manchester City, one of Real Madrid’s main rivals in recent seasons, the determination he has shown has largely erased those doubts.
One thing has always been clear to Rodri: returning to La Liga, with Real Madrid as his priority. He rejected a late approach from Paris Saint-Germain and also turned down renewal offers from City, where his contract runs until June 30, 2027. His reasoning was simple and unequivocal: he wants to play for Real Madrid.
At Real Madrid City, they have also moved beyond the months when Rodri was repeatedly linked with the club without any concrete progress. The interest is now genuine, especially after Florentino Pérez gave his approval to pursue the deal, which could move forward after a meeting scheduled for Thursday, July 30.
Reaching an agreement with the player is not considered a problem. The focus is now on negotiations with the English club, which is understandably unwilling to allow a player of Rodri’s stature, reinforced by his World Cup performances, to leave for nothing. He was one of the standout players of the tournament, entered the conversation for the MVP award, and helped guide Spain national football team to a second world title.
Real Madrid is confident of completing the deal for between $46 million and $58 million, and once the player’s salary is included, the total investment could approach $116 million.
If Rodri’s signing is completed in the coming hours, it would likely create space for one of the midfielders currently in Mourinho’s squad. It is simply a matter of numbers: at present, the Portuguese coach has one player too many for the available places.
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