As it turned out, Rodri was never actually serious about joining Real Madrid. Perhaps he really did want to join the Royal White club, but his heart was not into Madrid 100 percent. There are even reports in the Spanish media now that he merely used Real Madrid's name as a means of joining Barcelona, whom he is now expected to sign with for a higher transfer fee than what Real were willing to pay Manchester City for a player in the final year of his deal.
It is telling, of course, that Rodri wanted Barca over Real Madrid when he could have just stayed at Manchester City - a club he has no issues with at all - for another season before joining the Merengues for free in 2027. Instead, he is headed to the arch rivals, just when Jose Mourinho and the club had their hopes up for him.
Now, signing Rodri always had the big road block of Eduardo Camavinga not wanting to leave and clear up a squad space in midfield. Mourinho still wants another defensive midfielder and views one as essential, but Ayyoub Bouaddi is already headed to Manchester City, Mateus Fernandes joined Tottenham Hotspur, and Real Madrid already made it clear they don't want Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez. So even if Mourinho can still get the defensive midfielder he wants and Cama - or someone else - somehow goes, the pickings will be slim.
Here are three viable, last minute defensive midfield options for Real Madrid in 2026.
Angelo Stiller, Stuttgart
Real Madrid held interest in Stuttgart gem Angelo Stiller last season, and he has been high on Barcelona's list for Hansi Flick, too. So with Rodri going to Barca, maybe Real Madrid go back for the anchor of Stuttgart, who has been impressive alongside Real's own future gem Chema Andres. Stiller has a sweet left foot, can score from range, defend at an elite level, control the play, or progress as a dribbler or passer. He could be world class at a bigger club and has great leadership traits.
Nicolas Seiwald, RB Leipzig
Real Madrid already set a record by signing Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig for 140 million euros, but if they want to sign another talented player from the best team in Germany at producing talent these days, sorry Borussia Dortmund, then defensive midfielder Nicolas Seiwald is worth looking into. Seiwald should be pretty cheap, and while he isn't the best creator in the world, he is such a great, hard nosed defensive player that Jose Mourinho may fall in love with him.
Last season, Seiwald was Europe's best defender in the midfield with 3.7 combined tackles and interceptions and just 0.5 dribbles completed allowed per game. With more than 40 passes attempt per match and a pass completion percentage of 89, Seiwald is also much improved on the ball and only just hitting his peak as a player at the age of 25.
Adam Wharton, Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace know that Adam Wharton is one of the biggest young gems in English football and the national team's future star defensive midfielder, alongside Archie Gray of Tottenham Hotspur, so they will drive a hard bargain approaching 100 million pounds for a player who is not yet fully proven.
But Wharton has real quality on the ball in terms of how he reads the game and would be the best deep lying playmaker of the future for Real Madrid to get a lead on. He is unlikely due to cost, but he is the highest upside option, especially in terms of creating chances and progressive passing, which Real are not getting enough out of Aurelien Tchouameni.
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