Real Madrid have ruled out summer moves for Manchester City midfielder Rodri and Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise, despite mounting speculation in recent weeks linking both players with the European champions.
According to The Athletic, sources inside the Bernabeu insist Rodri is not currently part of the club’s transfer plans, even after his eye-catching performances for Spain and his award as the best player at the 2026 World Cup.
This stance appears to run counter to a series of recent reports, including from Spanish newspaper Marca, which claimed the midfielder is keen to join Real Madrid and that some members of the club’s board are pushing president Florentino Perez to reconsider the idea of signing him.
However, club sources cited by The Athletic have underlined that, for this transfer window, the 28-year-old is not being considered as a target.
Rodri’s Bernabeu hopes on hold
Rodri’s name had been strongly associated with Real Madrid in recent months, particularly given his extensive experience in La Liga from his time at Atletico Madrid before moving to Manchester City.
Reports in Spain suggested the Spain international “يرغب بشدة في ارتداء قميص ريال مدريد” – that he is determined to wear the Real shirt – and that internal pressure was growing on Perez to at least re-evaluate the feasibility of a deal.
Despite this, those within the club’s hierarchy stress that the current recruitment strategy does not include a high-cost move for Rodri, who remains a central figure at City and under long-term contract in the Premier League.
Real Madrid’s position suggests they are unwilling to enter complex negotiations or pay the substantial fee that would likely be required to prise one of Pep Guardiola’s key players away from the Etihad Stadium.
No talks with Bayern over Olise
The same report adds that Real Madrid’s view on Michael Olise is similarly unchanged. The club continues to deny that any talks have taken place with Bayern Munich over the French winger.
Real previously issued an official statement refuting claims that they had opened negotiations to sign Olise, and The Athletic says the club still does not regard a deal for the 22-year-old as realistic this summer.
“التعاقد مع اللاعب خلال الصيف الحالي لا ينظر اليه في الريال باعتباره صفقة قابلة للتنفيذ في الوقت الراهن” – signing the player in the current window is not seen at the Bernabeu as a deal that can be executed at this time, the outlet reported.
Mourinho focus shifts to trimming squad
The transfer stance comes as Real Madrid concentrate on consolidating their project under head coach Jose Mourinho, who has targeted a new central defender and an additional central midfielder to strengthen the squad.
While Mourinho is understood to be keen on further reinforcements, the club hierarchy believes the bulk of the transfer work for this window has already been completed. The priority in the coming weeks will instead be to move players out before contemplating any more high-profile arrivals.
That approach effectively pushes any potential pursuit of Rodri or Olise into the background, at least for the current summer window, despite continued media speculation and the apparent interest of the players themselves in a future move to the Bernabeu.
