Real Madrid News
Real Madrid have not contacted Spanish midfielder’s entourage despite numerous links
Real Madrid’s pursuit of a new midfielder has linked the club with top profiles from across the globe in recent times.
One of the many players who was linked with the club in the same situation was Manchester City’s Rodri, especially given his Spanish roots and supposed desire to return home.
While Florentino Perez and Co. had the player on their radar, he was soon associated with Enrique Riquelme’s campaign for Real Madrid’s presidency.
While he never publicly backed the candidate, he disappeared off Perez’s radar soon after.
Real Madrid’s current stance
In recent days, Rodri has once again appeared on Real Madrid’s radar after his impressive campaign with Spain and word has it that he has been offered to the club for a fee of close to €70 million.
MARCA, however, bring to light that Los Blancos have not made any approach to Rodri or his entourage in recent weeks despite the widespread rumours.
The Ballon d’Or winner has just one year left on his contract with Manchester City, and all signs point to the two parties separating ways at the end of next season. As matters stand, however, the Santiago Bernabeu does not appear to be a likely destination for him.
Florentino Perez’s concerns
Perez himself has been an admirer of Rodri in the past and continues to face serious internal pressure about signing the player now.
After all, several key figures within the administration see the player as possessing the exact profile Los Blancos lack.
The club president, however, has valid concerns about the operation that cannot be disputed, all of which have led the Merengues away from Rodri’s signing.
For starters, Rodri has had several injury struggles in recent times, especially to his knee. There is a worry that his fitness could be a problem for Real Madrid, especially given how the squad has already been dealing with a complicated situation on that front.
Then there is the aspect of the €70 million price tag and whether it is a worthy investment for a player at the fag end of his career and with just one year left on his deal.
Real Madrid prospect Alexis Ciria will have to wait for his Champions League opportunity despite making a strong impression on Jose Mourinho during pre-season.
The Castilla winger has been left out of Real Madrid’s European squad, but the decision is the consequence of UEFA registration rules rather than a sporting judgment.
According to journalist Arancha Rodriguez (h/t Defensa Central), Ciria was not eligible for Madrid’s List B because he has not been with the club long enough to satisfy UEFA’s requirements.
Registering him would therefore have required Mourinho to include him on the more restrictive List A.
UEFA rules work against Ciria
List B provides clubs with additional flexibility to register young academy players, but being young enough is not sufficient on its own.
Players must also meet requirements concerning how long they have been eligible to represent the club.
Ciria does not meet those conditions because of his limited time at Valdebebas. Real Madrid would therefore have needed to sacrifice a List A position to register him.
With those places required for members of Mourinho’s senior squad, Ciria was ultimately left out.
Real Madrid’s List B instead includes youngsters such as Joan Martinez, Mario Rivas, Thiago Pitarch, Jorge Cestero and Daniel Yanez.
Many of these youngsters made a name for themselves under Mourinho during pre-season and could be used to make up the numbers in the Champions League squad.
They could also get some minutes off the bench, especially against relatively easier opposition, as Jose Mourinho looks to manage first-team minutes.
Mourinho still plans first-team opportunity
Importantly for Ciria, missing the Champions League squad does not appear to reflect a change in Mourinho’s opinion of him.
The youngster impressed during pre-season and is expected to continue spending time around the senior team.
Mourinho intends to give Ciria his official first-team debut during the season. That opportunity will now have to arrive in La Liga or the Copa del Rey.
The Portuguese tactician placed a lot of emphasis on trusting Castilla players during pre-season in the absence of first-team stars.
Ciria was one of the many names who made a name for themselves at Real Madrid during pre-season. He deserves a chance in the first team, and it remains to be seen how Jose plans his development.
