Real Madrid are moving firmly ahead with their squad planning on the assumption that Rodri Hernández will become their new midfield addition this window. Formal negotiations with Manchester City haven’t started, but optimism inside the Bernabéu is running high — helped along by the player’s own enthusiasm for a return to Spain.

Manchester City haven’t given up

City’s hierarchy still believe they can convince their captain and Spain’s World Cup-winning midfielder to stay, whether through a fresh contract extension or simply by seeing out his current deal, which runs to 2027. New manager Enzo Maresca is reportedly treating Rodri’s continued presence as a condition of his own project at the Etihad, and City are said to be holding out for a fee close to €100 million against Real Madrid’s preference to stay nearer €60 million — though Pérez is reportedly willing to go as high as €115 million if that’s what it takes.

Real Madrid’s pitch

Despite City’s resistance, Madrid are shaping their sporting project around Rodri arriving to lead the creative midfield role once occupied by Toni Kroos. Representatives from the club reportedly held a private meeting with Rodri’s agents in Pozuelo, Madrid, where they outlined a long-term project built around a contract through 2030. Mourinho is said to have personally pushed Pérez to get the deal done, having identified Rodri as the ideal player to reshape his midfield.

Rodri, for his part, has made no secret of wanting to play in Spain again one day, and a return to his home city carries obvious personal appeal alongside the football rationale.

A complication that can’t be ignored

The deal isn’t without real risk. Rodri is set to undergo back surgery this summer, an operation that could rule him out for months regardless of which club he’s playing for — a factor that, notably, doesn’t appear to have cooled Real Madrid’s enthusiasm so far.

It comes on the back of a career year on the pitch. After struggling for form last season while working back from an ACL injury, Rodri was outstanding at the World Cup, captaining Spain to the title with a 1-0 win over Argentina in the final and picking up the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.

RMxtra Verdict

This remains a deal built more on mutual desire than a signed agreement — no club-to-club talks have even begun, and the fee gap between the two sides is still substantial. But between Rodri’s personal preference, Mourinho’s direct involvement, and Real Madrid already planning as if he’s arriving, this looks like one of the summer’s more likely blockbusters to actually get done, back surgery and all