Real Madrid Snubbed by Rodri and Refuse to Chase a Replacement—Can Their Midfield Hold Up?

Real Madrid's ambitions to acquire a deep-lying midfielder were dealt a severe blow when World Cup-winning captain Rodri revealed his preference to join Barcelona rather than the Spanish capital club. Consequently, it appears Madrid will not pursue alternative signings this summer.

The central midfield position has been a persistent concern at the Bernabéu. Aurélien Tchouaméni remains the club's sole senior 'number six,' and the team has lacked a creative orchestrator since the departures of iconic pair Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić.

A frustrating, trophy-free campaign last season further underscored Madrid's need for reinforcements, with Álvaro Arbeloa's side struggling to assert dominance in high-stakes fixtures.

Rodri—a former Ballon d'Or recipient and Madrid-born player with under a year remaining on his Manchester City contract—had long been considered a potential answer to Madrid's midfield concerns, and club president Florentino Pérez reportedly sanctioned a pursuit of the 30-year-old following his Golden Ball-winning performances during Spain's triumphant run at the North American tournament this summer.

However, it has since been widely confirmed that Rodri favors a switch to Barcelona, effectively ending Madrid's hopes of securing the deal.

No Rodri: What Now for Real Madrid?

Spanish outlet Cadena Cope reports that Los Blancos' leadership was left "displeased" by Rodri's decision to opt for Barça—where he would join eight other members of Spain's World Cup-winning squad—over Madrid.

The 15-time European champions had appeared to be frontrunners to secure the midfielder, having initiated contact after the World Cup, with "all signs pointing toward a deal." That outcome is now off the table, with Rodri making it clear he intends to join Barcelona provided a transfer fee can be negotiated with Manchester City.

The report further states that Madrid now have "no intention of entering the transfer market" for an alternative following Rodri's snub.

This is corroborated by MARCA, who insist Madrid are "not losing sleep" over Rodri, with the squad deemed "95% complete" in its current form.

That report also notes that had Rodri been brought in, it would have required the sale of either Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga, or Federico Valverde. All three are now expected to remain, unless an "astronomical offer" arrives before the transfer deadline.

How Real Madrid's Midfield Could Look Next Season

New head coach José Mourinho typically deploys his sides in a 4-2-3-1 formation, suggesting Madrid will likely operate with a double pivot in midfield, behind a No.10.

Mourinho has essentially six candidates available for the two central midfield berths: Tchouaméni, Valverde, and Camavinga, along with Arda Güler, Thiago Pitarch, and summer signing Bernardo Silva.

Notably, MARCA suggests that the role Rodri would have occupied has been earmarked for Silva. The 31-year-old Portuguese midfielder, who has claimed six Premier League titles and made 53 appearances across all competitions in 2025–26, is versatile in his positioning but could be favored as the holding midfielder, tasked with controlling play and protecting the backline. It is a role he grew into more consistently during the final stages of his time in England.

If that proves to be the case, club captain Valverde or the defensively disciplined Tchouaméni would be the most natural candidates to partner the former Monaco man in key matches, though Güler—one of the few players to emerge from last season with an elevated standing—is a genuine contender and a player Mourinho is known to admire.

During the World Cup, it was reported that the new boss personally called the 21-year-old following Türkiye's exit to share his plans for the upcoming campaign. It is entirely plausible that the emerging talent could be redeployed as a deep-lying playmaker, serving as an in-house solution to a longstanding problem.

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The futures of Camavinga and Pitarch remain far less defined, with the latter having been linked to a potential loan departure from Madrid this summer.

Ultimately, Madrid may believe they have sufficient depth to absorb Rodri's rejection, but whether the quality is truly there remains an open question.