Much more than just another Galactico: Rodri to Real Madrid is an excellent idea
Reports from Spain indicate that Real Madrid is pushing to sign newly crowned world champion Rodri, despite a back injury. Although his contract with Manchester City runs until 2027, the club aims to finalize the deal now at the request of Jose Mourinho.
In Spain, it is reported that Real Madrid is making efforts to bring in the newly crowned world champion Rodri, despite a back injury that could sideline him for several months. Rodri, whose contract with Manchester City expires in 2027, could move for free next summer, but Real Madrid wants to complete the purchase now following a request from Jose Mourinho. According to reports, Rodri — despite the injury — is interested in completing this move and has already agreed to his terms.
It should be noted that according to presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme, Rodri has already agreed on his move to Real Madrid with him. Florentino Perez, who does not necessarily want to "fulfill" Riquelme's campaign promise, would be happy — according to reports — to bring the leader of the World Cup-winning national team to the Santiago Bernabeu. Bringing in Rodri would likely be the best professional and cultural decision that Perez and Mourinho could have made.
First of all, since Toni Kroos left Real Madrid in 2024, the team has not had a player who can manage the game, slow the pace when necessary, increase it when required, and keep the ball when it is essential. Rodri, even in a less successful season for him at Manchester City as it was a recovery season from his cruciate ligament tear, is currently the best player in the world at doing what Kroos did at Real Madrid.
But beyond the professional aspect, bringing the Spanish midfielder into a rather troubled locker room would be the beginning of the correction that Real Madrid fans are hoping for.
Reminder: The situation in the Real Madrid locker room deteriorated last season to the point of physical altercations between players who lacked respect for each other and for the glorious club that signed them. Rodri is exactly the type of player who not only straightens out players on the pitch but also influences them positively off the pitch.
Although he was considered one of the potential successors to Sergio Busquets in the national team from a young age, Rodri never gave up on his development off the pitch. While playing for Villarreal in La Liga, he studied business administration and economics at the university. To ensure he did not miss any lectures, he even chose to live in the student dorms.
"At 19, I was in the university dorms, every day I would drag my bike to the local train to get from lectures to training. My classmates did not know I was a footballer."
Even after joining Manchester City and winning Premier League titles under Pep Guardiola, Rodri continued to study. He attended evening classes after training and eventually completed his degree, proving that development off the pitch can be just as important as development on it.
Furthermore, while many footballers relax with PlayStation games, Rodri often chooses chess. He claims that the game helps him in football as well because it is "a game that rewards patience, planning, and thinking several steps ahead" — these are qualities that have made him both one of the best midfielders in the world and one of the best and most level-headed leaders in the football world.
This is exactly what the Real Madrid locker room needs. And if the injury allows it, this is also what the locker room will get.
