Real Madrid Rejects Rodri and Olise Transfers
Real Madrid have drawn a firm line through two of the most talked‑about names of the summer: Rodri and Michael Olise.
Despite weeks of noise linking the Manchester City midfielder and the Bayern Munich winger with a move to the Bernabéu, club sources have made it clear to The Athletic that neither player is on the agenda in this window.
Rodri desire meets Madrid reality
Rodri’s situation cuts against the grain of the current narrative around him. Fresh from a superb World Cup with Spain and officially crowned best player at the 2026 tournament, his stock has never been higher. Reports, most recently from Marca, have painted a picture of a player eager to wear the white shirt and a section of the Real Madrid board urging president Florentino Pérez to at least explore the possibility.
The answer from inside the club is blunt: not now.
Those close to Madrid’s planning insist Rodri does not feature in their strategy for this summer. His past in La Liga with Atlético Madrid, his tactical intelligence, his form for Spain – none of it has shifted the internal view. For this market, he is off the board.
Olise links shut down again
Olise finds the same door firmly shut.
The Athletic reports that Madrid’s stance has not moved an inch, despite rumours of talks with Bayern Munich over the France winger. The club continue to deny any negotiations and have already gone as far as issuing an official statement rejecting claims they were in discussions to sign him.
Behind the scenes, the message is consistent: bringing Olise in now is not seen as realistic or achievable. Whatever admiration there may be for his talent, it is not being translated into a concrete move this summer.
Mourinho wants more – the club says “not much more”
All of this plays out against the backdrop of José Mourinho’s drive to complete what he views as the next phase of his squad.
The coach is pushing for at least two more pieces: a defender and an additional midfielder to deepen his options. He sees a group that can still be sharpened, still hardened for the demands of the season ahead.
The hierarchy take a different view of the broader picture. From the offices at Valdebebas, there is a feeling that the bulk of the heavy lifting in this transfer window is already done. Before they even think about new arrivals, the priority is clear: move players out, trim the squad, create room.
Rodri and Olise, then, are not just victims of circumstance. They are markers of where Real Madrid believe they stand in their project. The names are glamorous, the rumours relentless, but for now the club’s message is unambiguous: the big moves can wait, the exits cannot.
