According to AS, Real Madrid are making progress in signing Rodri and Diomande, but negotiations for Rodri have been temporarily put on hold.
Real Madrid have temporarily slowed down their pursuit of Rodri Hernandez. What initially seemed like a quick deal now requires more time and space to proceed.
Real Madrid's president approved the move earlier this week. While there had been doubts and discussions within Valdebebas over the past few weeks, the team's stance remains unchanged. The reason for the delay is that Real Madrid's first team is still dealing with other departures and new signings, especially Diomande's transfer. The two sides have essentially reached an agreement, with only some paperwork remaining. His five-year contract with Real Madrid is fully agreed upon, and the club's management is reassuring the player that the priority is to complete the deal as soon as possible so that the Ivory Coast international can begin training with José Mourinho before the end of this week.
In fact, the outside world originally expected the deal to be completed in the first few days of this week, but the two sides had disagreements on certain terms, which caused Diomande to join daily training later than expected.
Returning to the Rodri deal, the final decision and initial contact with Manchester City, originally scheduled for Thursday, have been postponed. Real Madrid's interest and desire remain, but other matters have taken a backseat. As previously reported by AS, the midfielder has been working to dispel concerns within Valdebebas' inner circle, convincing everyone that he is the player Real Madrid needs right now.
There was internal discussion surrounding Rodri at Real Madrid regarding his performance at the World Cup, especially after the semi-finals and final. He went from being initially ruled out to becoming a top target. His technique and physical condition overshadowed any doubts. Meanwhile, his resume alone is enough to justify this nearly €100 million transfer. The titles of 2024 Ballon d'Or winner and 2026 World Cup Golden Ball winner will also be an additional attraction for the Spanish midfielder. Furthermore, the Real Madrid president's recent absence from the Spanish capital has temporarily postponed the planned introduction and official photo opportunity. However, all the new faces for Real Madrid in the 2026-27 season will have their debut moments and the opportunity to wear the white jersey and make their official appearance, although some of them may even make their first appearance against Fiorentina.
