Mourinho Furious as Rodri Picks Barcelona Over Real Madrid

Jose Mourinho is said to have reacted with “immense anger” after learning that Manchester City midfielder Rodri will not be joining Real Madrid this summer. The Portuguese manager had reportedly built his tactical planning around the World Cup winner’s arrival, only to see the Spanish international choose arch-rivals Barcelona instead.

Mourinho Left Stunned by Rodri’s Decision

Spanish outlet SPORT claims Mourinho “couldn’t believe” the news, having spent much of the summer designing his midfield setup around Rodri. The situation escalated during “more than one conversation” between Mourinho and the Real Madrid board. Despite the manager pressing for a high-profile alternative, the club hierarchy has reportedly told him no further midfield signings will be made.

Tactical Reshuffle Forced at Valdebebas

With reinforcements ruled out, Mourinho must restructure using existing squad options. Bernardo Silva and Arda Guler are expected to absorb greater responsibility in ball distribution, with Silva potentially operating in a deeper double pivot alongside Aurelien Tchouameni.

The shift places significant pressure on Guler, who Mourinho envisions as a primary creator in the mould of Mesut Ozil. Coaching staff will use the final weeks of pre-season at Valdebebas to test the new blueprint, banking on the technical quality of Silva and Guler to offset the absence of a specialized holding midfielder.

Ajax Teenager Emerges as Contingency Target

Real Madrid have identified 18-year-old Ajax midfielder Jorthy Mokio as a potential €30 million alternative. Los Blancos scouts believe the Belgian teenager has the physical profile to adapt to La Liga, though securing him will be difficult: Ajax hold him to a contract running until 2031. Madrid are expected to wait until Rodri’s move to Barcelona is officially confirmed before advancing talks for the youngster. The pursuit signals a deliberate shift in transfer philosophy, prioritizing elite teenage talent over established names.

Wider Transfer Market Fallout

Rodri’s decision to sanction a move to Barcelona has created a ripple effect across the European market. Manchester United, now managed by Michael Carrick, had reportedly been monitoring Aurelien Tchouameni’s situation, with the hope that a Rodri arrival at Real Madrid might free up the Frenchman for a transfer to Old Trafford.

Barcelona must still agree a fee with Manchester City. Negotiations have stalled after City rejected the Catalan club’s opening bid. With Rodri entering the final 12 months of his contract at the Etihad Stadium, Barcelona will need to return with an improved offer to complete the move. For Real Madrid, the focus now turns to internal development and a potential late push for Mokio.

Read also: Mourinho’s Six Untouchable Starters at Real Madrid Revealed as Squad Hierarchy Takes Shape

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