The midfield at Real Madrid has been a problem since Toni Kroos left. Carlo Ancelotti suffered with it and Xabi Alonso, although he has tried some solutions with relative success, still does not have a player with the German’s profile in his squad, which has led him to ask the club to go to the market for a midfielder. Florentino has heard the request and sees only one problem: the players he likes are not on the market and are exorbitantly priced. The president, who has already invested more than $180 million in signings, does not want to throw money away on a player who is not entirely convincing. Furthermore, if it were up to him, there is only one name on the agenda: Rodri.
Rodri is the chosen one for midfield
Florentino is clear that in order to invest, he has to be convinced, and he has one name in mind: Rodri. Manchester City will not make it easy for him to leave, but Real Madrid has set a price that it would be willing to pay to have the Spanish international in its ranks. The midfielder has been on the Whites’ agenda for years, but he is an almost impossible signing as he has a contract in force.
He is the missing piece in midfield, as the Ballon d’Or winner has the vision, attacking prowess, and defensive solidity that the team needs. However, there are also concerns about how the player will return from his serious injury now that he will be playing regularly again at the highest level. This is something that will determine whether he signs immediately.
Two options and two very different prices
Madrid, aware of his situation, has two options: go for the Spaniard at the end of the transfer window with a last-minute offer or wait until he has one year left on his contract. Rodrigo has a contract with Manchester City until 2027, so the Whites are waiting to decide whether to go for him now, with the considerable financial outlay that this would entail and the doubts about his physical condition. Or they could start talks to prevent him from renewing in England, see how he develops, and wait until next summer to seal his signing. In the meantime, Xabi Alonso would have to make do with the current squad.
The main reason for the hesitation between going for him now or waiting is the price. On Cadena SER’s El Larguero, journalist Antón Meana has stated that Madrid will only sign Rodri if City is willing to sell him for around €100 million. The player is not for sale and the English club would demand at least three figures, with his price well above the €100 million that Real Madrid would be willing to pay.
However, if the club waits a year and the player enters the final year of his current contract, that price would drop considerably. Rodrigo will be 30 years old, entering his last season with City, with the possibility of leaving for any team the following summer… and this would lead the English club to reduce its demands to a price that could drop to €60-80 million.