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The midfield has been a persistent weak spot for Real Madrid for quite some time. Two years, to be precise.
Essentially, ever since Toni Kroos departed on a high after lifting the 2024 Champions League trophy, Madrid have been left with a gaping hole in their engine room that they have struggled to address.
That inability to dominate games through the middle of the pitch was only made worse by Luka Modrić's departure a year later, and it is hardly a coincidence that Madrid have gone without silverware since both legends called it a day.
This summer marks a period of transformation at the Bernabéu, with returning manager José Mourinho handed the responsibility of steering the club back toward success. To support his efforts, the 63-year-old has been backed with a revamped defensive unit featuring Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konaté and Denzel Dumfries, with yet another center-back reportedly on the way.
In midfield, however, the sole addition so far is Bernardo Silva. While the 31-year-old is a seasoned performer and decorated winner, he is not the answer to Madrid's midfield puzzle—rather, he is expected to serve more as a reliable depth option, capable of elevating training standards and delivering solid performances across at least three different positions.
So the hunt for Madrid's next great midfield orchestrator continues. Or does it? And are the club genuinely pursuing one?
Madrid Say Thanks But No Thanks to Elite Targets
During Real Madrid's hastily arranged presidential elections, Florentino Pérez's rival Enrique Riquelme made signing Rodri his headline transfer promise. The Manchester City star's camp was even compelled to deny that he had already agreed a deal to join the club should Riquelme win the vote.
In the end, the green energy businessman was beaten at the ballot box in June, with the Rodri ambition seemingly fading alongside Riquelme's failed campaign.
Recent reports suggest the re-elected Pérez has little appetite for pursuing a deal for the 30-year-old Rodri, despite the fact that the Madrid-born World Cup winner has just one year remaining on his City contract and reportedly "dreams" of returning to the Spanish capital.
Equally puzzling, Madrid took the unusual step of publicly distancing themselves from any interest in Chelsea's Enzo Fernández, another high-profile midfielder openly courting a move and widely considered to be Mourinho's top target.
"In light of the reports and statements that have appeared in recent days regarding an alleged interest from Real Madrid CF in the player Enzo Fernández, the club wishes to state that it has not made any effort, either direct or indirect, to sign the aforementioned player and, likewise, has no intention of undertaking such an operation," the club said in a statement.
Which Midfielders Could Madrid Realistically Sign?
Rodri and Fernández—who faced each other in the 2026 World Cup final—would have featured near the top of most Real Madrid supporters' summer transfer wish lists. The club's apparent reluctance toward both players is made all the more baffling by the absence of credible links to other deep-lying midfield controllers.
Morocco's teenage talent Ayyoub Bouaddi has been one name mentioned as a player the club is monitoring, but at just 18 years old, he can hardly be expected to step in and dictate play for the world's most prominent club. The Athletic has reported that while Madrid have received "positive reports" on the Lille youngster, he is not considered a priority target.
20-year-old AZ prospect Kees Smit is another name in the conversation, though the same reservations apply to yet another high-ceiling but low-experience candidate.
Meanwhile, Mateus Fernandes was reportedly on Madrid's extended shortlist before his lucrative move to Tottenham Hotspur, and his staggering £85 million ($113 million) fee makes it difficult to identify genuine value in the current market.
There is also a growing sense that the truly world-class options may simply be unavailable at this moment. Pérez is known to admire Paris Saint-Germain's João Neves, but the 21-year-old is tied to the back-to-back Champions League champions until 2030. The same applies to his PSG teammate Vitinha.
Could Madrid Make Do Without a New Signing?
There remains a slim chance Real Madrid could reverse their stance on Rodri—who is set to undergo back surgery following the World Cup while weighing up a contract extension offer from City—or Fernández, though it appears unlikely.
Unless a new option surfaces, there is a very real possibility the club simply defer the midfield playmaker issue to a future transfer window, perhaps when a more suitable opportunity presents itself. For now, it may come down to finding a workable solution with what they already have.
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Mourinho's favored 4–2–3–1 formation calls for a double pivot sitting behind a more attack-minded No.10. As things stand, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga and academy product Thiago Pitarch are candidates for the deeper roles, with Jude Bellingham expected to start in the advanced position behind Kylian Mbappé. Additionally, Federico Valverde, Arda Güler and new recruit Silva are likely to be viewed as versatile options capable of operating in both the deeper and more advanced midfield roles.
With preseason already underway, Mourinho may ultimately conclude that his existing squad is sufficient. Or at the very least, that it will have to be.