Real Madrid's Shocking Position on Rodri's Transfer Saga Finally Revealed

Manchester City midfielder Rodri appears to have signaled his openness to a move to Real Madrid in the coming months, yet numerous reports from both England and Spain indicate that the Spanish giants are not as enthusiastic as the player himself about a potential transfer.

After initially dancing around the subject, Rodri made his intentions crystal clear by stating he would love to return to La Liga and would have no hesitation in leaving his Atlético Madrid roots behind to represent Real Madrid.

"You can't say no to one of the greatest clubs on the planet," he candidly admitted this week.

"It doesn't matter whether they come into a game in good or bad form, Real Madrid is always Real Madrid. The door is not closed." At least from Rodri's perspective, the door remains ajar. But Madrid don't seem to be in any hurry to fling it wide open.

The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner "does not feature in the club's future plans" according to Spanish sports daily AS. English outlet The Times also reports that interest in Rodri has "cooled" at the Bernabéu.

Madrid are desperately seeking midfield reinforcements this summer and seemingly have one of the finest central midfielders in the world publicly putting himself forward. So why are Los Blancos hesitant to take him up on the offer?

Why Real Madrid 'Have Concerns' About Rodri

Real Madrid's hesitation, according to The Times, appears to stem from concerns over Rodri's fitness record. The Spaniard had been Manchester City's ironman before suffering a devastating ACL injury in September 2024. Having been virtually indispensable under Pep Guardiola, Rodri has since battled a series of muscular problems following his return from an eight-month absence.

The European champion has enjoyed a clean bill of health in 2026 so far, starting nine consecutive Premier League matches and last weekend's victorious Carabao Cup final against Arsenal.

Nevertheless, "concerns" in Madrid are said to persist, with the club also reportedly keen to pursue younger players who offer greater future market value than someone who will turn 30 at the start of next season.

Rodri's Injury Record Before and After ACL Tear

There is little question that Rodri is "highly respected" by Real Madrid's players and senior management, per AS.

The tension with Vinicius Junior surrounding the Ballon d'Or controversy two years ago has long been forgotten. Both players exchanged a warm embrace when City and Madrid met in the Champions League, and Rodri once again played down any lingering animosity in the same interview in which he expressed his transfer ambitions.

Yet that admiration "doesn't go far enough" to persuade Madrid to prioritize Rodri over other targets. AS notes that the club are seeking a "centrocampista," a broad term for a midfielder who not only operates as a defensive screen (as Rodri does) but can also influence the game in other phases.

Who Can Real Madrid Target Instead of Rodri?

When Jorge Valdano served as sporting director of Real Madrid, the former World Cup winner once told the club's exacting president, Florentino Pérez, that three out of every five transfers end in failure. Midfield has proven to be a particularly inconsistent area for Madrid.

The search for a Toni Kroos replacement is heading into its third summer without resolution. If a player of Rodri's quality can be passed over, then Madrid have left themselves with a very limited pool of genuinely superior alternatives.

Chelsea's Enzo Fernández is a name who, much like Rodri, has done little to dismiss speculation linking him to the Bernabéu. The World Cup winner is younger and more naturally attack-minded compared to a possession-focused midfielder in the mold of Kroos or Luka Modrić.

Should Fernández join Madrid's current squad, it would bring to mind the remark Frank Lampard made about Chelsea's midfield back in 2023, offering Fernández the backhanded compliment of: "He is the most natural six out of a midfield which doesn't have so many natural sixes."

Fellow Premier League player Dominik Szoboszlai is another name loosely connected to the Spanish capital who doesn't quite match the required profile. Newcastle United's Bruno Guimarães would be a more natural fit for the two-way role at the base of midfield.

Beyond England's top flight, Stuttgart's understated midfield anchor Angelo Stiller would represent a departure from the Galáctico transfer model in what is an unglamorous position.

The challenge for Madrid, regardless of their preferred target, is the fierce competition they will face in the summer window. Arsenal, Manchester City, and Manchester United are all believed to be seeking midfield additions, and any players who catch the eye at the World Cup will see their valuations spike considerably.

By the time next season arrives, Rodri may not seem like such an unappealing option after all.