Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho has admitted that signing Rodrigo Hernández Cascante (Rodri) would have been the “icing on the cake” for his revamped squad, despite believing the club already possesses enough quality in midfield.
Mourinho made the admission ahead of Real Madrid’s first official game of the 2026/27 La Liga campaign, with his side set to face Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium on Saturday.
The fixture will mark the Portuguese coach’s first competitive match since beginning his second spell at the Spanish giants.
Rodri had been heavily linked with a move to Madrid during the summer after emerging as one of the club’s preferred midfield targets. However, the Spain international ultimately completed a €70 million move from Manchester City to Barcelona, signing a four-year contract with the Catalan club.
Speaking about the failed pursuit, Mourinho acknowledged Rodri’s quality and the experience he could have brought to his midfield. “It would have been the icing on the cake. He’s a great player, he’s a footballer with experience and ‘status’,” Mourinho said.
The Real Madrid boss also pointed to the strength already available to him in the centre of the pitch, naming Aurélien Tchouaméni, Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga and Arda Güler as players capable of contributing to his midfield plans.
“When you have Tchouaméni, Valverde, Camavinga and Arda, Rodri would have made it complete,” Mourinho added, indicating that Rodri would have represented an additional layer of quality rather than an essential solution to a depleted department.
Rodri’s decision to join Barcelona therefore adds another dimension to the rivalry between the two Spanish giants.
The 30-year-old midfielder brings Champions League, Premier League, international and Ballon d’Or-winning experience to a Barcelona side attempting to defend its La Liga title and win the Uefa Champions League for the first time since 2015 under Luis Enrique.
The former Atletico Madrid midfielder was the captain as Spain won their second world title at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America where he was also named the Player of the Tournament.
For Madrid, missing out on Rodri does not mean the summer has been quiet. The club have significantly reshaped Mourinho’s squad, bringing in Marc Cucurella, Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konaté, Bernardo Silva, Carlos Espí and highly rated winger Yan Diomande.
Konaté and Bernardo arrived as free agents, while Diomande’s transfer could become the most expensive in the club’s history.
Mourinho Begins Second Madrid Era With Barcelona in His Sights
Mourinho returns to Real Madrid more than a decade after his first tenure ended in 2013. His initial spell, from 2010 to 2013, produced three major trophies, including the 2011 Copa del Rey and the 2011/12 La Liga title, when Madrid famously finished the campaign with a record 100 points under his management.
His return comes after Madrid endured two consecutive seasons without a major trophy, while Barcelona have established domestic superiority by winning the last two La Liga titles.
Madrid finished eight points behind Barcelona last season, leaving Mourinho with the immediate task of restoring the club’s domestic authority.
The Portuguese coach has already made clear that he expects collective discipline from a squad packed with elite talent, including Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior.
His challenge will be finding a system that allows those attacking stars to flourish without compromising the balance he believes is essential to winning major trophies.
Madrid’s ambitions extend beyond La Liga. With 15 European Cup/Champions League titles already in their history, the club will be targeting a record-extending 16th crown this season.
Mourinho’s reputation for delivering trophies and his previous success against Barcelona make his return one of the biggest storylines of the new campaign.
But before Europe becomes the focus, Mourinho must first navigate a demanding domestic campaign. Saturday’s meeting with Espanyol represents the beginning of his latest Madrid chapter.
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