Rodri to Barcelona: Real Madrid's surprisingly calm reaction to losing their top target

Real Madrid have admitted defeat in the race for Rodri, with Barcelona closing in on a remarkable hijack of the Manchester City midfielder. Rodri has agreed to join the Catalan club after a summer in which a move to the capital looked the most likely outcome. A fee is still to be settled, but Barcelona are ready to put €60 million on the table - €45 million guaranteed and €15 million in add-ons. That has been enough for Jose Mourinho's side to accept that they have lost out. The club's internal reaction is said to be surprisingly relaxed. At Valdebebas, the message is simple: "We have to accept it." Real Madrid believe they made a "very good" offer, yet they also recognise that Rodri never showed the total conviction expected of a player who wants to join them. As one report put it, the player's own desire was decisive. Supporters, however, are furious. Even the news of Vinicius Junior's new contract and the imminent arrival of Yan Diomande has done little to calm them. Fans see central midfield as the priority, and Rodri as the perfect answer, both in quality and price. Radio analyst Marcos Lopez summed up the frustration: Real Madrid are a team of attacking monsters with Vinicius, Diomande and Mbappe, but they still lack the midfielder who can give the side structure and meaning. The next step may only increase the anger. Madrid are not expected to sign another midfielder, with Mourinho reportedly satisfied with the options in his squad. Barcelona, in other words, have not just landed an elite player - they have taken away the one signing Real Madrid truly needed.