Mourinho wants Rodri if he returns to Madrid

What's being reported

Football365 — citing a Spanish report, though the original source is unnamed — claims that Mourinho has identified Rodri as his primary transfer target should he be appointed Real Madrid manager for a second time. The reported price tag: €100m. The label attached to the Manchester City midfielder: 'world-class'. The claim originates one step further back than Football365 itself, and neither outlet has been corroborated by an independent second source.

To be clear about where we are: Mourinho has not been appointed at Real Madrid. No deal for Rodri has been discussed publicly. This is a single-source story with derivative origins — treat it with appropriate scepticism, even if it's a notch above pure social noise.

Why it's hard to ignore entirely

Here's the thing — the logic isn't absurd. Mourinho knows the Bernabéu, knows what it demands, and has always built his best sides around a dominant midfield anchor. Rodri, the reigning Ballon d'Or winner, is arguably the best defensive midfielder on the planet when fit. If you were drawing up a dream signing for a Mourinho-era Madrid rebuild, you'd probably land on a similar name.

The problem is the 'when fit' caveat. Rodri suffered an ACL injury during the 2024-25 season and his return timeline — let alone his availability for a summer transfer — remains unclear. A €100m move for a player in rehabilitation is a very different conversation to a €100m move for a player in full flight.

The Mourinho angle

Mourinho's first spell at Real Madrid — 2010 to 2013 — ended with a fractured dressing room and a very public falling-out with large parts of the squad. He won La Liga once, which matters, but the exit was messy enough that a return has always felt unlikely rather than inevitable. Reports of his potential comeback have surfaced periodically without ever hardening into something concrete.

Whoever Madrid's next manager turns out to be, they will inherit a squad in transition — and a fanbase that has grown accustomed to Champions League finals. The bar is not low.

Our take

Mourinho returning to Madrid with Rodri as his marquee signing is a compelling headline. It is not, right now, a compelling transfer story. One outlet passing through an unnamed Spanish source, no independent corroboration, an unconfirmed managerial appointment, and a target who is still recovering from a serious knee injury. File this under 'watch this space' — and wait for a named second source before you start planning the unveiling.