Manchester City’s €130m-rated stalwart tops Real Madrid wishlist but there is one big problem | OneFootball

With Luka Modric set to bid farewell to Real Madrid after over a decade of brilliance, the club’s top brass have turned their attention to finding a true midfield orchestrator to fill the Croatian’s boots.

According to a report from AS, the name at the top of the wishlist is Manchester City’s Rodri, a player who embodies many of the qualities Madrid are losing with Modric’s departure.

Rodri, 28, is regarded as one of the most complete midfielders in world football, capable of dictating tempo, shielding the defence, and initiating attacks with metronomic precision.

His blend of tactical intelligence and physical dominance makes him a near-perfect profile for Madrid’s needs.

However, despite his apparent openness to playing at the Santiago Bernabeu, securing his services would be far from straightforward.

City will not let him leave

The complications are multiple. Firstly, Rodri is under contract with Manchester City until 2027, and the Premier League champions are under no pressure to sell one of their most valuable assets.

Real Madrid are not too confident about Rodri’s fitness. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Secondly, and perhaps more significantly, Rodri is just returning from a serious cruciate ligament injury sustained on September 22, 2024.

The injury sidelined him for 240 days, and although he made his long-awaited return this past Tuesday, there are lingering doubts about whether he will ever fully regain his pre-injury form.

Real Madrid are treading cautiously. While the interest in Rodri is real and well-founded, there is a growing internal debate with the club about the wisdom of investing heavily in a player coming off such a significant layoff.

For that matter, his potential call-up for the Nations League Final Four this summer will provide a key litmus test for his fitness and readiness for elite-level competition.

Timing will also be critical. Madrid have postponed any major midfield move until after the FIFA Club World Cup this summer, where the club is aiming for both prestige and a €100 million windfall.

Once that campaign concludes, a clearer picture will emerge regarding whether to pursue Rodri or pivot to other options.

*Player valuation in title obtained from transfermarkt.com on date of publication.