Real Madrid are moving to strengthen the midfield role left open since Toni Kroos’s departure, and the club’s board has settled on Rodri Hernández as the priority target — a player they see as having exactly the tactical stature and leadership needed to run the middle of the park.
A fast-moving story
This one has swung hard in a matter of days. Fresh off winning the Golden Ball as the best player of Spain’s 2026 World Cup triumph — Spain went undefeated through the tournament and edged Messi’s Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final — Rodri was reported to have given the move his personal green light. But Florentino Pérez initially shut the door on it, reportedly wary of signing a player with Atlético Madrid roots and focused instead on building the squad around Kylian Mbappé.
That stance has since shifted. As of this week, reports describe Pérez as considerably more open to the deal than he was earlier in the summer, with personal terms said to be close even though formal talks with Manchester City haven’t started yet. Rodri’s approval, along with a contractual framework the two parties are reportedly close on, has changed the tone of the conversation inside the Bernabéu.
The mechanics of a deal
Real Madrid’s interest is reportedly contingent on funding: Defensa Central reports the move only advances if Eduardo Camavinga is sold this summer, with any proceeds used to help finance a Rodri deal. Estimates on the transfer fee have varied — from figures near €60 million to an estimated market value closer to €65.8 million — reflecting how unsettled the numbers still are.
There’s real urgency behind it, too. Rodri’s Manchester City contract runs out in the summer of 2027, meaning this is City’s last real window to cash in before risking losing him for nothing — a dynamic that gives Madrid genuine leverage if they choose to use it.
RMxtra Verdict
Calling this a “decision made” is getting ahead of where things actually stand — Pérez has softened, not committed, and no formal negotiation with City has begun. But the gap between “not an option” and “personal terms close” has closed remarkably fast this week, and if Camavinga’s sale goes through as expected, Rodri could yet become the marquee midfield addition Mourinho’s rebuild is looking for.
