Real Madrid Midfield Pursuit: Pep Guardiola Refuses to Block Rodri as Enzo Fernandez Emerges as Primary Target
The race for Real Madrid’s next midfield powerhouse has sparked a stark contrast in management styles between Manchester City and Chelsea, as Pep Guardiola insists he will not stand in Rodri’s way should the Spaniard seek a move to the Santiago Bernabéu.
Speaking on April 3, 2026, Guardiola clarified that Manchester City will not block Rodri from joining the Spanish giants. The City boss explicitly stated he would not follow the example of Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior, who recently took disciplinary action against midfielder Enzo Fernandez.
Rosenior revealed on Friday that Fernandez has been suspended for Chelsea’s next two matches. The decision came after the midfielder “crossed a line” with comments made during the international break regarding a potential transfer to Madrid.
Rodri had expressed similar sentiments, noting in an interview in Spain that one “can’t rule out the best clubs in the world” when discussing a possible move to the capital. Despite his desire for the midfielder to remain at the Etihad Stadium, Guardiola acknowledged the immense draw of Real Madrid, stating, “There is not one player that will turn down the chance to play for Madrid, he was born in Spain.”
Whereas Guardiola emphasized that the organization of the club remains the priority and that happy players should stay, he maintained that if a player is unhappy, they must leave.
However, despite the public discourse surrounding Rodri, reports from Spain suggest that Real Madrid may be prioritizing the Chelsea man. According to Raul Varela of Radio Marca’s La Tribu, Enzo Fernandez is “much closer” to joining Real Madrid than Rodri.
Varela claimed that the president of Real Madrid currently does not intend to sign Rodri, asserting that “Rodri has no chance of going to Real Madrid” at this time. Marca’s Amalio Moratalla added that while Rodri is a high-level player who would fit the squad, the primary questions remain regarding the price Chelsea would demand and the effort Real Madrid would need to exert to secure Fernandez.
Rodri, who has one year remaining on his contract, has been open about his situation. Speaking with Onda Cero, he admitted that a conversation regarding his future will eventually be necessary. When asked if his previous tenure with Atletico Madrid would prevent a move to the Bernabéu, Rodri replied, “No, I mean, there have been many players who have gone down that path.”
As both midfielders continue to attract interest from one of the world’s most prestigious clubs, the differing reactions from their respective Premier League managers highlight the tension surrounding high-profile transfer speculation in the 2025-26 season.
