Real Madrid rule out summer move for Ballon d’Or winner – report | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s pursuit of a new midfielder has taken the administration across the globe with several eminent names linked with a potential move. Manchester City’s Rodri has been seen as one such candidate.

Despite the Spaniard beating Vinicius Jr. to the Ballon d’Or last year and becoming an unpopular figure in Madrid, Los Blancos themselves continue to admire the star midfielder given his profile.

After all, he is one of the few modern midfielders who can not only excel in his defensive work but also dictate the tempo, play-make and standout in crux moments.

Operation ruled out

As relayed by Tomas Gonzalez-Martin in a recent report, Real Madrid will not go after Rodri this summer and a number of reasons are behind their latest decision.

No move for Rodri this summer. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

For starters, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner is just coming back from a long-term knee injury and finding his feet. Spending on a player who is already 29 and an uncertain from a fitness standpoint, needless to say, would appear difficult to comprehend.

Further, Rodri’s current contract in England sees him bound to Pep Guardiola’s side until 2027 and his club will not let him go cheap should he move this summer.

A fee of around €100 million is speculated to be their demand, and while rumours have it that Real Madrid are willing to meet that, the practicality of that unfolding is limited.

The midfielder has always been admired by the Real Madrid hierarchy, but fate has had it that he has never found an optimal window to push for a transfer.

At this point in his career, the door to Real Madrid may well be shut forever and the club could venture towards younger and more dynamic options in addition to trusting the existing options including Arda Guler, Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni.