Real Madrid are trying to make the impossible happen with Rodri

When Real Madrid president Florentino Perez makes up his mind, he does not go for the middle ground. His obsession with Kylian Mbappe eventually led him to the Frenchman. His personal distaste for Cristiano Ronaldo in the latter's final years eventually led to the Portuguese legend's departure to Serie A giants Juventus.

And now, in the summer 2026 transfer window, Florentino's stubborn side has come out again. Because while he is in dogged pursuit of Michael Olise despite the complexities and apparent unfeasibility of a blockbuster transfer for Bayern Munich's biggest gem, he has been completely blocking off a Rodri transfer.

Rodri is the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner and now confirmed to be back at his best after securing another Golden Ball - the 2026 World Cup's - by blanking top No. 6's Aurelien Tchouameni and Enzo Fernandez en route to securing another World Cup for the Spanish national team this summer.

The Rodri narrative is flipping

The Manchester City star has been beging for a Real Madrid move quite publicly for months, yet Florentino has not been swayed. Perhaps because of his age and recent ACL tear, Florentino was against Rodri and the cost of the deal, but with the cost going down and the fitness clearly not a concern after his insane World Cup, even Real Madrid players are befuddled as to why Florentino is blocking a clearly beneficial transfer to the Merengues.

According to a new report from El Larguero, via Madrid Xtra, everyone else in the building at the Valdebebas besides Florentino Perez has made it abundantly clear that they want to sign Rodri. The board wants him. They want him because of his quality and the intangibles of him being Spanish captain, a World Cup winner, and from the city of Madrid (and remember, he publicly said his old relationship with Atletico Madrid would not be an issue).

But for Real Madrid, as ever with Rodri, the biggest obstacle is their own chief decision maker, the presi. For whatever reason, Florentino is not moved by how easily Rodri bossed the field against France and Argentina, whom the average fan saw as the favorites to win the World Cup again after being the two finalists in 2022.

Pep Guardiola never wavered in saying that Rodri would be at his 100 percent best this summer, as he slowly refound his best form after the ACL tear during the 2025/26 season for Man City. Perhaps Real Madrid are waiting to sign Rodri for free in 2027, but a difference of 50-70 million euros may be worth it if Rodri wins them La Liga or the Champions League immediately in 2027.

Today's best reads

• Marc Cucurella just sent Florentino Perez a crystal clear Rodri message
• Rodri's Cristiano Ronaldo snub just changed his Real Madrid trajectory
• Romain Molina drops a Vinicius Junior bomba Real Madrid fans were not ready for
• Lothar Matthaus just sent an unwise Michael Olise challenge to Florentino Perez
• Fabrizio Romano confirmed what Real Madrid fans didn't want to hear about Rodri

This article was originally published on therealchamps.com as Real Madrid are trying to make the impossible happen with Rodri.