Real Madrid weigh Rodri move as age and injury prompt Bernabeu debate

Real Madrid have revived their long-standing interest in Manchester City midfielder Rodri, with president Florentino Perez now backing a move while senior figures at the Bernabeu debate the terms of any potential deal.

According to Spanish newspaper El Pais, Perez has been convinced by the idea of signing the Spain international as part of Jose Mourinho’s plan to reinforce Real Madrid’s midfield with a high-profile addition. Internal discussions are currently focused on the length of the proposed contract, with options of three or four years under consideration.

The main reservations inside the club centre on Rodri’s age – he is 30 – and the fact he underwent knee surgery following a cruciate ligament rupture. Despite those concerns, the prevailing view within Real Madrid is said to be optimistic about his physical condition and level of performance since returning from that injury.

Contract standoff gives Rodri leverage

Rodri is also seen as doing his part to leave the door open for a move. He has so far declined to extend his contract with Manchester City, which runs until June 2027.

If he continues without signing a new deal, he would be free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with any club from January next year, allowing him to leave on a free transfer when his current deal expires. That scenario would give him significant leverage in talks this summer, as City risk seeing a key asset move into the final stretch of his contract.

This contract situation is one of the factors encouraging Real Madrid to explore the possibility of bringing Rodri to the Bernabeu, even as they weigh the risks linked to his age and injury history.

Long-standing interest revisited

Real Madrid’s pursuit of Rodri is not new. The club considered signing him several years ago but chose not to proceed in 2018, when they had the chance to bring him in for around €20m. Instead, the midfielder left Villarreal for Atletico Madrid, before later joining Manchester City, where he has developed into one of Europe’s leading holding midfielders.

At the time of the 2018 discussions, Jony Calafat was among the most prominent figures inside Real Madrid opposed to the deal. The internal mood has shifted since then, with Rodri now enjoying strong backing from Mourinho and general director Jose Angel Sanchez, who see him as a strategic addition rather than a short-term fix.

Mourinho sees Rodri as key to European push

Mourinho is described as a driving force behind the renewed push for Rodri. The Portuguese coach believes the Manchester City player would significantly elevate Real Madrid’s midfield and, by extension, the team’s overall level.

In Mourinho’s view, Rodri, working alongside the current midfield options at the Bernabeu, could help Real Madrid compete more consistently with Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal and Bayern Munich at the very top of European football.

That belief has strengthened the argument in favour of pressing ahead despite internal caution about committing to a long contract for a 30-year-old with a serious knee injury in his past.

For now, Real Madrid’s discussions remain focused on finding a balance between Mourinho’s desire for a marquee signing in midfield and the club’s long-term planning, with Rodri’s contract situation at Manchester City giving the Spanish giants an opening they previously passed up.