Mourinho pushes Perez for Rodri signing: 'He's the one to replace Kroos'

José Mourinho has made it clear to Real Madrid's board who he wants to anchor his midfield for the coming years. According to Spanish reports, the Portuguese manager has urged club president Florentino Pérez to secure the transfer of Manchester City's Rodri during the current summer window. The 30-year-old Spaniard is seen by Mourinho as the only viable successor to Toni Kroos, whose departure left a void in the center of the park. The coach’s case is bolstered by Rodri’s commanding displays at the 2026 World Cup, where he led Spain to the title and was named the tournament's best player. Rodri's current deal with City runs until the summer of 2027, which could give Madrid leverage to negotiate a more favorable fee this window. Meanwhile, the Premier League champions are still trying to tie their midfield maestro to a new contract. Sources add that Rodri himself would welcome a move to the Santiago Bernabéu, a factor Mourinho is banking on.