Rodri follows Florentino’s roadmap to join Real Madrid | OneFootball

Florentino Pérez has made Rodrigo Hernández the sole midfield target for Real Madrid, a pursuit months in the making, with spending considered only if the Madrid-born player becomes attainable.

"There will be a point when we have to sit down and talk," Rodri said. "You cannot turn down the biggest clubs in the world." He was speaking to Onda Cero.

Madrid sounded out his agent, Pablo Barquero, months ago to gauge intentions and feasibility.

Pérez’s interest grew from Villarreal to Atlético, and he noted the midfielder’s roots in Villanueva de la Cañada and start at Rayo Majadahonda. Learning that Rodri kept travelling to Castellón to complete a business degree at Universitat Jaume I further impressed the president.

Under Pep Guardiola he has become Spain’s fulcrum for Luis de la Fuente, who has known him since 2015, with Spain crowned European champions and aiming to contend at the World Cup. Pérez views him as heir to Casemiro, Kroos and Modric, resisting alternatives proposed by Carlo Ancelotti, including Alexis Mac Allister and Sandro Tonali, and telling Xabi Alonso it would be Rodri or nobody.

During the March window Rodri reiterated his wish to return to Spain to play and hinted others might have merited the Ballon d’Or he won. The Manchester City midfielder is 29, 30 in June, and contracted to 2027, with Guardiola potentially departing then if he sees out his final year. City want a renewal, but a sale or a free exit later remain possible, and Madrid would not rule out waiting.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo