Real Madrid will not pursue another midfielder after priority target chooses Barcelona – report | OneFootball

As has become clear over the past 24 hours, Manchester City superstar Rodri will not be joining Real Madrid.

What had appeared to be a deal moving in the right direction since the end of the World Cup took a dramatic turn on Thursday, with all parties now accepting the outcome.

The midfielder, who was named the tournament’s best player, has decided that he wants to pursue a move to Barcelona, rejecting the offer that had been presented by the Spanish champions.

Mourinho happy with his current midfield

Now, according to Abraham P Romero of El Mundo, Rodri’s decision will not prompt Real Madrid to enter the market for another midfielder.

No new midfielder for Mourinho. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

According to the report, Jose Mourinho is satisfied with the midfield options already available to him and does not believe another signing is necessary.

With the Rodri pursuit now over, the club’s plans in that area of the squad are expected to remain unchanged.

Instead, they will look to players like Arda Guler and Bernardo Silva to provide the creative element and vision from the midfield department.

Real Madrid accept Rodri’s decision

In one of the most recent conversations between the club and the player, Rodri informed Real Madrid’s hierarchy that he had decided to choose Barcelona.

Despite reports suggesting that Mourinho was furious about the deal collapsing, the response inside Valdebebas has been one of acceptance rather than frustration.

Rodri has chosen Barcelona. (Photo by Diego Souto/Getty Images)

Club officials are convinced that the decision was driven entirely by the player’s own wishes and not by external factors.

That is the message coming from within the club, where there is an understanding that Rodri has simply chosen the project he believes suits him best.

No hard feelings despite a strong offer

Real Madrid believe they put an excellent proposal on the table. There was genuine interest in signing Rodri and the offer reflected that commitment, but they now accept that it will not happen.

The player’s camp, meanwhile, have been keen to highlight the professionalism shown by Real Madrid and club president Florentino Perez throughout the negotiations, describing their conduct during the process as exemplary.

Now, having missed out on their priority target, Real Madrid do not intend to enter the market for a new midfielder and instead rely on their existing options.