The potential return of José Mourinho to Real Madrid is already making headlines both in the chaos surrounding his move from Portugal and which players he wants and which he wants to get rid of. Rodri seems to be at the center of the “buy” side of the rumours.
According to Football Insider, Mourinho is working for Real Madrid to make the Manchester City midfielder the first major signing in his second spell at the Bernabéu.
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Mourinho has not yet been officially presented as Real Madrid manager, it will only happen after the election of a new club president this weekend.
Reuters reported that he is still the manager of Benfica, and he has stated that his agent is in contact with Madrid, but there is no official offer yet. Rodri is an obvious target for Real Madrid. He is Spanish-speaking, experienced, top-level technical and already proven as one of the world’s best midfielders.
He also won the Ballon d’Or in 2024, which only elevates his status even higher. For Mourinho, a player like Rodri would be the perfect piece to build on.
If you want to rebuild your midfield in Madrid, you need someone who can immediately contribute with control, leadership and tactical intelligence.
The contract situation is what makes this story extra interesting. Rodri’s current deal with Manchester City runs until 2027, which means he is approaching the final year of his contract.
Naturally, this creates uncertainty. If he does not extend, City may have to consider whether they should sell him now, rather than risk a more difficult situation later.
Real Madrid are “doing everything they can” to sign him at Mourinho’s request, and it is also suggested that a potential transfer fee could be around €60 million.
For a player of Rodri’s quality, it would under normal circumstances be a bargain. But the length of his contract, his age and recent injury problems affect the calculation.
He has also stated that he expects to make a decision about his future during the week.
Rodri has been a long-term target for Real Madrid.
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