Real Madrid are reportedly considering an incredibly ambitious move for Manchester City midfielder Rodri this summer as they finally endeavour to sign Toni Kroos's successor.
Los Blancos kept Barcelona honest at the top of the La Liga table with a smash-and-grab 1-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, triumphing thanks to a last-gasp winner from Federico Valverde.
However, Carlo Ancelotti's men remain four points below the Catalan giants at the La Liga summit, and the 2024-25 campaign has been one of negatives rather than positives for the 15-time European champions.
Real's limitations were exposed in a 5-1 aggregate annihilation at the hands of Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals, where Ancelotti's famed front four experienced little joy against the Gunners' backline without the invention of Kroos.
The ex-Germany international surprisingly decided to retire from the sport at the end of Euro 2024, and while Real still boast a plethora of talented midfielders, none boast the unique passing skill-set that Kroos brought to the table.
Real 'urgently seeking' Kroos replacement as Rodri links emerge
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Luka Modric is undoubtedly a legend at the Bernabeu, but the Croatian veteran turns 40 in a few months' time, and it is not clear whether he will be granted an extension to his current contract beyond the summer.
As Real Madrid seek to move on from the glittering midfield of old, a report from Cadena SER - via Bild - claims that Bernabeu chiefs have turned their attention to a very audacious move for Ballon d'Or winner Rodri.
The Spain international is allegedly seen as the 'perfect' replacement for Kroos at Real Madrid, in spite of the fact that he has not played since September due to a devastating ACL injury.
Rodri has a slim chance of returning before the end of the season, though, and there is also hope that he will be fit for Man City's Club World Cup campaign, where they could come up against Real Madrid this summer.
Reasons why Rodri's Real Madrid move is a non-starter
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Regardless of how Real Madrid perform in La Liga or the Champions League, Los Blancos will be persistently linked with the best players in the world, and Rodri's Ballon d'Or proves that he is officially the best player in the world.
Los Blancos may have received encouragement to pursue a blockbuster deal by Rodri's contract situation, as the 28-year-old's deal with Man City only runs until 2027, but there has been no reason to suggest that he is pushing for a move elsewhere.
The report adds that Rodri remains 'very comfortable' in Manchester, and prior to his ACL injury, City chiefs were keen to tie the Spain international down to a long-term extension until the summer of 2030.
That is still expected to be the case so long as Rodri regains his form after a lengthy layoff, so Real Madrid's efforts to lure him away from the reigning Premier League champions are likely to be in vain.
Furthermore, Rodri's Atletico Madrid connections must be factored into the equation, not to mention last year's Ballon d'Or drama, where Real Madrid refused to send a delegation to the ceremony after learning that the Spaniard had pipped Vinicius Junior to the prize.
Ben Knapton
