Following Toni Kroos's retirement and Luka Modric's departure, one of Real Madrid's priorities has been to restore stability and consistency in the midfield. The club has tried a number of different options but has struggled to find anything close to the midfield trio of Kroos, Casemiro, and Modric, which has been one of the main stumbling blocks in recent years.
Different combinations of Jude Bellingham, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, and Federico Valverde have all been tried, but the club has still struggled to find the perfectly balanced midfield with players already at the club. As a result, the club's chiefs are keeping an eye on the transfer market ahead of the summer transfer window.
Real have been linked to a number of the top midfielders in the world, such as Vitinha, Enzo Fernandez, and Aleksandar Pavlovic, as well as some of the top midfield prospects, including AZ Alkmaar's Kees Smit. There's no shortage of midfielders who could sign, but who exactly they think would fit their system the best remains unknown.
One midfielder who has been heavily linked with a switch to the Bernabeu is Manchester City midfielder Rodri. The Spaniard is a favorite candidate among many at the club who believe he is the perfect replacement for Kroos. Many questions have been swirling around his future in recent months, and his father just added even more to the questions many are asking.
Rodri's father doesn't rule out Real Madrid move
While speaking in an interview recently, Rodri's father Antonio Hernandez stated that his son is happy at Manchester City but added that the midfielder doesn't know if he'll continue at the club beyond his current contract that expires in 2027. He said (via ESPN UK):
"I can't say anything. He's very comfortable where he is. It's possible he [Rodri] doesn't know it [where he will play] yet. He is negotiating. But I know nothing. History has yet to be written."
Antonio Hernandez
Rodri arrived at City in 2019 and has been one of Pep Guardiola's most important players, helping the former Barcelona boss guide his side to major success, including the winning goal that secured their first-ever Champions League title.
However, Rodri, who Guardiola called 'irreplaceable', has had a bit of a rough go over the last year and a half. He suffered a torn ACL in September of 2024 and has only made 14 appearances since returning from injury, as he's suffered from subsequent muscle injuries that have kept him sidelined for months at a time.
Whether or not Rodri will end up at Real Madrid in the next year or two remains unknown, but given his age and the injuires catching up to him, it would be in Real Madrid's best interest to look at other options that would fit the vision of the future better.