Real Madrid dealt blow as top midfielder target for 2026 unlikely to move

Real Madrid did not move for a midfielder in the transfer market this summer, despite manager Xabi Alonso reportedly being in favour of bringing in a controlling presence in the middle of the pitch. In the end, Alonso was persuading Dani Ceballos not to leave rather than persuading a potential star to come through the door.

However there is a sense that in 2026, Los Blancos may well look to the transfer market to give Alonso a character of player that looks similar to himself. The name most closely linked to Real Madrid is Manchester City’s Rodri Hernandez. The Spain international is yet to discuss a new deal with City, and it is thought they will keep a close eye on him to see how he comes back from his injury, with his deal up in 2027.

Vitinha admired by Real Madrid

Back before he was receiving Ballon d’Or shouts, Paris Saint-Germain lynchpin Vitinha was already being signalled as the type of player Los Blancos were keen to bring in. Given his importance to PSG, and the poor relations between the two clubs, it seems highly unlikely they would be willing to negotiate, but Los Blancos were supposedly modelling their search for a midfielder partly on the Portuguese international.

2026 transfer shut down by PSG

There had been some suggestion that Real Madrid could move for him with a €90m release clause coming into play next summer for Vitinha. However Marca highlight that not only are release clauses not permitted in Ligue 1, there is no ‘gentleman’s agreement’ between Vitinha and PSG to allow him out the door either.

Given Vitinha is under contract until 2029, it seems there is little chance of Vitinha being available. Rodri, reportedly the only midfielder President Florentino Perez believes it is worth breaking the bank for, will come into sharper focus next summer.