Real Madrid will be one of the biggest players in the summer transfer market for a true star in the center of midfield, particularly someone who can both make plays from deep and dictate the play while offering Aurelien Tchouameni better defensive cover from deep than what Eduardo Camavinga currently can.
A who's who of Premier League stars are either publicly throwing themselves at Real Madrid or, like Alexis Mac Allister, are doing so in private through transfer leaks to the biggest of the Spanish press. But the most interesting rumors are reserved for 2023/24 Ballon d'Or winner Rodri of Manchester City, once seen as an enemy for both Atletico Madrid and Man City as the man who snubbed Vinicius Junior.
Now, Rodri is gushing over Real Madrid, publicly pumping up Vinicius Jr., and doing his best to angle for a transfer that even Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is acknowledging the real risk of Rodri moving back to the Spanish capital.
Real Madrid don't want Rodri
However, Real Madrid continue to give mixed, if not outright negative, messages to the Spanish star of the last European Championships. According to Guillermo Rai of The Athletic, senior sources at Real are "playing down" the chances of signing Rodri. They then gave Rai the same old refrain of signings need to be balanced by sales.
The one big sale Real Madrid could make in midfield is Eduardo Camavinga, and it does not seem like they are going to sell any other players; Florentino Perez is loathe to lose a superstar unless they really, really beg to leave.
Nobody fits that right now. On top of it, Rodri is going to be 30 in June of this year, and Real Madrid may not want to pay both a pretty sizeable transfer fee plus wages to Manchester City for Rodri. Now, Man City and Guardiola do not stop veteran stars from leaving if they want to, and they can easily buy to replace him, perhaps going for Bruno Guimaraes or Sandro Tonali of Newcastle - or Premier League up and comers Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton.
Whatever the case, Real Madrid seem less interested in Rodri than Rodri is in them. His profile and quality definitely suit Real, but after the ACL tear, he still does not look like the same player, even though he remains an effective starter for England's most impressive cup team of the 2025/26 season.