Toni Kroos has gone, and Real Madrid still can’t answer the question he left behind: who runs the midfield now? The Spanish club thought Rodri might be the man. The Spaniard chose a different path, shutting the door on a fix that could have ended a crisis stretching across two seasons. Real Madrid are back on the hunt for the “compass” to restore balance to their midfield.<\/p>\n
Finding a solution to their playmaking problem has become urgent now that Rodri has committed to a move to Barcelona.<\/p>\n
Just two weeks before the La Liga campaign kicks off, Real Madrid have wrapped up several deals to strengthen the squad, bringing in Cucurella, Dumfries, Konat\u00e9, Bernardo Silva, Carlos Esp\u00ed and Yan Diomande. Yet the capital club are still hunting for a player who can fix the obvious shortage of creativity in midfield.<\/p>\n
Rodri, the Manchester City man, was the most pressing answer of all. The team have struggled since Kroos left, missing anyone capable of leading the attacking build-up and setting the tempo from midfield.<\/p>\n
That shortage has been glaring across the past two seasons. Real Madrid have lacked a “compass” to drive their attacks and give them control in central areas, which turned signing Rodri into a demand of the fans and the board alike.<\/p>\n
Real Madrid still have time<\/p>\n
Losing out on Rodri hasn’t closed the window. Real Madrid can still act in the market, which runs until the end of 1 September.<\/p>\n
Jos\u00e9 Mourinho wants to reinforce the middle of the park. He also knows the club’s ability to close a new deal may hinge on the fate of certain players, chief among them Eduardo Camavinga and Ra\u00fal Asencio, with outgoings likely needed to make room for newcomers.<\/p>\n
3 options on Real Madrid’s table<\/p>\n
Rodri’s switch to Barcelona has narrowed the shortlist. Some of the other names linked to the club look tough to land, such as Jo\u00e3o Neves and Vitinha, the Paris Saint-Germain pair.<\/p>\n