José Luis Hurtado wrote in Marca that Florentino Pérez would have to explain if Real Madrid failed to sign Rodri.
Casemiro, Kroos, and Modric. Real Madrid used to rely on them to operate in midfield, to understand life and football through that midfield. Now, none of them remain, and the gap is obvious. Therefore, in the name of order and authority, signing Rodri is almost a necessity.
As shocked Real Madrid fans stood on the beach in disbelief, news broke that Rodri might be snatched away by Real Madrid and transferred to Barcelona. This was a heavy blow to the fans' emotions, and a painful blow to anyone who understands the workings of football in midfield.
This pushed Real Madrid's despair to near its peak. They lost the man chosen to control the game, and he went to their arch-rivals, Barcelona. The outside world initially thought the team was insolvent, but their fans no longer cared whether they owed €30 million or €31 million. Football is driven by street passion; let others interpret the numbers on the books.
What is Mourinho really thinking?
If Real Madrid ultimately fails to sign Rodri, a lot of explanations will be needed, and many of these explanations may ultimately turn into toxic speculation. Florentino Pérez must explain why the team needed a playmaker, yet instead signed Dumfries, Konaté, Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, Ezpilicueta, and Diomande, with Diomande's transfer fee being shockingly high.
One day, the outside world was also eager to know José Mourinho's opinion. This courageous man has yet to be officially introduced; he is a historic case for the club and a unique figure among new managers.
Replacing Casemiro, Kroos, and Modric with Chuameni, Valverde, and Camavinga requires overcoming a mountain of conviction, not something that can be resolved on a sweltering summer afternoon. World Cup MVP Rodri has long since mastered the ins and outs of football, but in some areas, that's not enough.
