Urgency over Diomande and a pause on Rodri’s arrival

Real Madrid have briefly paused their pursuit of Rodri. What appeared to be an imminent conclusion regarding the world champion’s future now requires more time and patience. The club’s position remains unchanged after president Florentino Pérez gave the green light earlier this week to begin the operation following weeks of internal debate at Valdebebas.

The delay is primarily due to other transfer matters involving both arrivals and departures, most notably Yan Diomande. An agreement is in place, but the deal is still awaiting final documentation. The five-year contract with the player has been fully agreed, and while club officials have sought to reassure him, their priority is to complete the transfer so the Côte d’Ivoire international can join José Mourinho’s training sessions before the end of the week.

In fact, the move had been expected to be completed in the early part of this week, but disagreements over several contractual clauses between the two clubs have delayed Diomande’s arrival at training longer than anticipated.

As for Rodri, the expected decision and the first formal contacts with Manchester City, which had been scheduled for Thursday, have been postponed. The interest and intention remain intact, but other matters have taken priority. As AS has reported, the midfielder has had to overcome several obstacles in order to convince everyone at Valdebebas that he is the player Real Madrid currently need.

His performances at the World Cup, particularly in the semi-final and final, reignited the internal debate. He went from being ruled out to becoming the club’s top target. His displays and physical condition dispelled any lingering doubts. His résumé also strengthens a move that is expected to cost around $117 million. Winning the 2024 Ballon d’Or and the 2026 World Cup Golden Ball would add further prestige to the signing.

Meanwhile, the absence of the club president from Madrid for several days has delayed the formal presentations and traditional photo sessions. However, all of Real Madrid’s new signings for the 2026-27 season will eventually receive their official unveiling in the white shirt, although it has not been ruled out that some of them could feature against ACF Fiorentina before those presentations take place.

Related stories

FIFA

Mexico criticized over FIFA reaction

FIFA

What FIFA needs to sell off the World Cup

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.