Real Madrid need a new superstar in the midfield, and this is a point that Jose Mourinho had made clear to Florentino Perez at the start of the summer 2026 transfer window. This was made clear even after Mourinho had already gotten Perez to sign Bernardo Silva for free from Manchester City, and he wants to sign another Man City star now months later.
The execs and others in the building at Real - and maybe even some players - have managed to convince Perez to change his mind on Rodri, whom he was rejecting for months - just like he did Silva for years before Mourinho's arrival.
Real Madrid are going hard after Rodri, who dreams of a transfer to the Santiago Bernabeu and has made that dream public for quite some time. But just as Real are preparing to finally grant Rodri his long term wish, they have some real competition to worry about.
Real Madrid have to worry about a PSG hijack
Barcelona have been linked to Rodri now, too, after their interest in Bernardo Silva, but with Real Madrid trying to make a hijack on the Yan Diomande bid, it is their old Champions League rival PSG that are now most interested in signing away Rodri.
RMC Sport's Fabrice Hawkins reports, via the Madrid Zone, that not only do PSG want to sign Rodri, but their Spanish manager Luis Enrique desperately wants to sign the hero of Spain's 2026 World Cup. Enrique wants to sign Rodri for anything no matter what it costs, and PSG are prepared to listen to Enrique and make a big offer.
Real Madrid are going to have to get serious if they want Rodri this summer, because Manchester City have no reason to sell now than rather let him go free. Man City do not need the money, and Rodri, in this form as the Golden Ball of the World Cup, is more valuable financially to Man City if they can win the Champions League with him than he would be for the, say, 60 millions euros Real Madrid would be willing to spend on him.
Rodri can reject PSG if they offer more money than what Real Madrid are offering to Manchester City and Man City accept PSG, but PSG are back to back Champions League winners and can offer a great wage package. Real Madrid cannot take dreams for granted, no matter how much Rodri seems he wants the Bernabeu.
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