{"id":67615,"date":"2026-08-08T04:11:38","date_gmt":"2026-08-08T04:11:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/67615\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T04:11:38","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T04:11:38","slug":"rodri-is-not-coming-to-real-madrid-so-what-does-next-years-midfield-look-like","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/67615\/","title":{"rendered":"Rodri Is Not Coming To Real Madrid.. So, What Does Next Year\u2019s Midfield Look Like?"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Real Madrid lost out on Rodri this Thursday \u2014 \u2018snubbed\u2019 by the Spanish midfielder who chose Barcelona instead \u2014 it was seen as a big blow. Rodri, by many, was considered the final piece: Someone with experience who can organize the midfield, bring leadership, ball progression, and lead the team out of high pressure situations.<\/p>\n

But while there was panic among fans, the club remains calm. Their motto has always been: If you want to play here, great \u2014 if not, we have no interest in pursuing you. And if you call us to tell us you\u2019re joining Barcelona, well, good luck, we\u2019re out.<\/p>\n

Of course, Real Madrid are not completely clear of blame, and part of the reason Rodri slipped away was because the club showed some hesitation after initially having a verbal agreement in place with Rodri. They then stepped away, focused on Yan Diomande, and ran out of time.<\/p>\n

There has, and will be, other narratives that come out of this that club will want to push out, namely that it was Rodri and Manchester City\u2019s fault. This author will also let you know, after several conversations with sources, that Real Madrid weren\u2019t fully committed to Rodri either, and there were several good reasons behind it, which are all fair: Rodri had an ACL injury two seasons ago, and last season, he missed nearly 30 games due to a combination of hamstring, groin, and knee injuries. Then there was the back surgery, which some brush off as \u2018minor\u2019; but Managing Madrid\u2019s resident radiologist, Vik Sobti, who specializes in back and spine injuries, indicated real concern with Rodri\u2019s back and athletes who have back injuries and surgeries in general. Those issues are often chronic and extremely difficult to recover. Some never do.<\/p>\n

Time will tell. Rodri may very well stay healthy for the next three-to-five years. If he does, Barcelona \u2014 or anyone else who would\u2019ve had him \u2014 would\u2019ve received an upgrade in midfield. If Rodri\u2019s health deteriorates (and to be clear, no one wants that to happen), then Real Madrid dodged a bullet.<\/p>\n

But what\u2019s done is done. Rodri is (probably) going to Barcelona, and good riddance. Things move on fast at this club. The question is\u2026 Now what?<\/p>\n

According to COPE\u2019s Arancha Rodriguez, the club is done with signings. If true, that in itself is interesting to unpack for two reasons:<\/p>\n

By all accounts Jose Mourinho wanted a Rodri profile in the team. With Rodri off the table, is it not pertinent to shift eyes to other targets?If not, then it\u2019s very clear: There aren\u2019t names appealing enough that would justify benching names like Arda G\u00fcler and Bernardo Silva \u2014 and if the solution to losing Rodri, as reported, is \u2018from within\u2019, then the bet is almost certainly on those two.<\/p>\n

That will be disappointing for fans to hear, but it is somewhat reasonable: Real Madrid currently have two slots open in that double pivot and these players are fighting for them: Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, Fede Valverde, Bernardo Silva, Arda G\u00fcler. (G\u00fcler is included in this list of deeper midfielders, as my hunch \u2014 and who knows, I could be wrong \u2014 will be that Mourinho builds his systems around Jude Bellingham as the 10.<\/p>\n

This conversation would be a lot easier if Real Madrid were able to move Camavinga out of the squad, or had they simply not signed Bernardo earlier this summer.<\/p>\n

I feel similar this summer to the way I felt last summer about this position: I think it\u2019s important Real Madrid have someone come in as an elite deep-lying playmaker, but also weary of signing someone not good enough to justify stalling G\u00fcler\u2019s progress. This is somewhat contradictory, because I have said continually in the past two years that this team needs more leaders and established players, and less developments and projects.<\/p>\n

But this may come down to the simple fact that I value G\u00fcler much higher than some others do<\/a>. In that linked article, I also outlined how certain tropes about him can be debunked, namely, silly claims that he doesn\u2019t show up in big games, or that his defense is a problem. He was one of Real Madrid\u2019s only bright spots last season and continues to improve. The analytics with him are very impressive.<\/p>\n

There is also some recency bias surrounding Bernardo, who, unfortunately didn\u2019t play much in the World Cup \u2014 but a lot of that has to do with the fact that Portugal already have Joao Neves, Vitinha, and Bruno Fernandes (and also, Roberto Martinez churned in one of the worst managerial performances in recent World Cup memory). The Rodri snub has also made the Bernardo signing look worse in many people\u2019s eyes, because he has unfairly been attribute with the moniker \u2018the wrong midfielder from City\u2019.<\/p>\n

Silva is still very good, if you look past the World Cup disaster. His attacking output decreased in his last season at City as he played deeper than normal, but his passing and defense remains very much intact. I would not be surprised if we reflect on his signing at the end of the season as a success. Do not put it past him to exceed expectations and help bring important leadership and minutes throughout all major campaigns.<\/p>\n

A trio of Tchouameni – Valverde – Camavinga does not bring much inspiration in terms of control and creativity. For that reason, I would start either G\u00fcler or Bernardo in midfield.<\/p>\n

Continue having faith in Jose Mourinho. He has an impeccable transfer record.<\/p>\n

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