Real Madrid are reportedly stepping up their pursuit of Enzo Fernandez, with fresh claims suggesting the Chelsea midfielder is now a more realistic target than Rodri of Manchester City.
According to Spanish radio presenter Raul Varela, Fernandez is “much closer” to joining the La Liga giants, while a move for Rodri is effectively off the table. Varela stated that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez currently has “no interest” in signing the City midfielder, significantly shifting the club’s transfer priorities.
Madrid’s search for a new midfield leader has intensified ahead of the summer window, with long-term replacements needed following the gradual transition from the era of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. While Rodri had been viewed as an ideal deep-lying option, financial constraints and reluctance from Manchester City to sell appear to have cooled that interest.
Fernandez, meanwhile, has emerged as a more attainable — and perhaps more glamorous — option. The Argentine has impressed at CHELSEA and remains under contract until 2032, but recent comments have fuelled speculation about his future. He has openly admitted he would like to live in Madrid, describing the Spanish capital as a city that reminds him of Buenos Aires
Speaking on Radio Marca’s La Tribu, presenter Raul Varela claimed that Madrid would prioritise a move for Fernandez ahead of Rodri if they signed a new central midfielder this summer
‘Enzo is much closer to Real Madrid, Rodri has no chance of going to Real Madrid,’ Varela said.
‘Today, the president of Real Madrid doesn’t want to sign him. I hate transfer news because everything changes every fifteen minutes, but today the president of Real Madrid is not going to sign Rodri.’
Marca’s Amalio Moratalla added: ‘He’s a very high-level player who would surely fit in at Real Madrid, the question is what price Chelsea would set and what effort Real Madrid would have to make.’
Will Chelsea actually sell?
Despite the growing noise, a transfer remains far from straightforward. Chelsea’s position is one of strength: Fernandez is tied to a long-term deal and was signed for a club-record fee exceeding £100 million. Letting him leave — especially without a significant profit — would undermine both sporting ambitions and financial strategy.
There is also the broader context of Chelsea’s rebuild. Fernandez is not just a starter but a central figure in midfield, and losing him would create a major gap that would be costly and difficult to fill. Reports suggest the club remain relatively calm and are even exploring contract adjustments rather than entertaining bids.
However, modern transfers are rarely dictated by contracts alone. If Fernandez pushes for the move — and his recent comments hint at at least an openness — Chelsea could be forced into negotiations, particularly if Real Madrid table a “Galactico-level” offer well above market value.
Ultimately, while Madrid’s interest appears genuine and growing, CHELSEA still hold the decisive cards. For now, Fernandez may be “closer” than Rodri — but not necessarily close enough to make a deal inevitable.
MORE BIG CHELSEA NEWS AND GOSSIP
Latest: Chelsea make shock move to sign £50M Arsenal star ahead of summer exit
Top Read: Blues fans flood social media after £100M star confirms he will be Chelsea player in summer
Most Read: £100M star tells Real he’ll be Chelsea in summer – Blues in serious talks sign German – Chelsea target told: make move
LOVE CHELSEA? CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS AND GOSSIP
Related
Discover more from IcFootballNews –
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.