Real Madrid News
Real Madrid president ‘in love’ with Manchester City star: ‘Either him or no one’
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez remains a long-time admirer of Rodri and would still like to see the Manchester City midfielder wearing the famous white shirt in the future.
According to a recent report from SPORT, Perez continues to view Rodri as the ideal player to strengthen Real Madrid’s midfield and is ‘in love’ with the Spaniard’s profile.
Real Madrid’s search for a true midfield organiser began earlier in the season when Xabi Alonso was still managing the team.
Alonso believed the squad needed a player capable of controlling matches from the centre of the pitch, someone who could dictate the rhythm of games and bring balance to the midfield.
However, the club had already invested heavily in new players during the transfer window.
After spending close to €200 million on new signings, Perez was reluctant to enter the market again unless the perfect opportunity appeared.
The president made his position very clear regarding the profile he wanted. “Either it’s Rodri, or we do not sign anyone,” he said.
Situation is complex
At the moment, however, the situation remains complicated. Rodri is under contract with Manchester City until 2027, which means any potential transfer would likely require a major financial investment.
Reports suggest that until next summer, the midfielder is unlikely to leave the English club under normal circumstances.
If City ever consider selling him, it would most likely be before the final years of his contract to avoid losing him for free in the future.
Despite the contractual situation, Perez’s admiration for the player has remained consistent over the years.
Sources close to the club claim that the Real Madrid president has always been impressed by Rodri’s personality and professionalism.
Perez remains a fan
According to those sources, Perez initially admired the midfielder’s calm character and leadership qualities.
But the president’s respect reportedly grew even more after learning about Rodri’s dedication to education.
Club insiders say that someone at the club revealed that the midfielder regularly travelled to Castellon to continue his university studies while playing professional football.
From that moment, Rodri began to be viewed with even greater respect inside the Real Madrid hierarchy.
Now the midfielder returns to the Santiago Bernabeu once again with Manchester City and while the focus will be on the match, Perez might/might not take advantage of this meeting to initiate something.
Real Madrid News
Jose Mourinho wants more attacking options at Real Madrid despite reaching 500-goal milestone
Jose Mourinho wants Real Madrid to become even more dangerous in attack, despite reaching a significant milestone during their 4-3 victory over AS Roma.
According to MARCA, it has come to light that Antonio Rudiger’s goal against Roma helped Mourinho’s Real Madrid reach 500 goals under his management.
However, the achievement has not changed the Portuguese coach’s desire to add more variety to his team’s attacking play.
In fact, Mourinho wants a side capable of controlling possession, launching rapid counter-attacks and creating danger from set pieces, all without losing the defensive discipline that defines his approach.
Mourinho targets attacking variety at Real Madrid
Real Madrid already have considerable firepower at their disposal, with Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr., Yan Diomande, Arda Guler, Carlos Espi and Endrick, giving Mourinho several attacking options.
On top of that, the injured Rodrygo would provide another high-quality alternative once available.
Hence, the challenge is not only to score more goals, but to make Real Madrid less predictable.
Mourinho wants his forwards to exploit their pace in transition while ensuring the team can also break down opponents through patient build-up play.
Set pieces are another important part of his plans, as combining those threats with defensive organisation would give the team more ways to control matches and punish different types of opposition.
Mourinho reaches 500 goals for Real Madrid
Rudiger’s strike against Roma carried added significance because it took Mourinho to 500 goals in 188 matches as Real Madrid manager.
That works out at an average of 2.66 goals per game, the best return among club managers who have overseen at least 50 matches.
La Liga accounts for the largest share, with Real Madrid scoring 345 goals in 122 matches.
They have added 92 goals in 38 Champions League games, 55 in 24 Copa del Rey matches and eight in four Spanish Super Cup fixtures.
Their biggest victory during this spell came in the 2010-11 Copa del Rey, when Madrid beat Levante 8-0.
This season, though, the team are averaging 2.5 goals per match.
Mourinho wants more from Real Madrid’s attack
The numbers underline Real Madrid’s scoring power, but Mourinho is looking beyond the milestone.
His ambition is to build a more versatile attack that can adapt to different opponents rather than rely solely on individual brilliance or quick transitions.
With Mbappe and Vinicius offering pace and penetration, and several other options providing different qualities, Madrid have the personnel to develop that flexibility.
Hence, the next step is making those strengths work together consistently.
