Manchester City star Rodri had a dream World Cup, winning the Player of the Tournament award and captaining Spain to the title.

He has been very keen on a move to Real Madrid for some time now, with a return to Spain said to be what he desires most at this stage of his career.

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Los Blancos, and especially Florentino Perez, have not been too active in their pursuit of the Ballon d’Or winner but are considering his interest.

However, according to The Athletic, the Spanish capital club making a move for Rodri could hinge on how long his back surgery is set to keep him out of action.

He will need an operation on the injury and there is currently no clear date for his return. That uncertainty could become a decisive issue in any possible move to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Set for back surgery. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Injury changes the picture

The biggest concern for Madrid is obvious. Rodri is one of the best midfielders in the world when fully fit, but a major transfer involving a player coming out of surgery carries a different level of risk.

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The timing matters too. If Real Madrid were seriously considering him as an immediate reinforcement, they would now need much more clarity over his recovery before committing to such a significant operation.

There is also the question of how long he will need to regain rhythm even after returning to training. Back injuries can be particularly delicate, and Real Madrid cannot base a major squad decision on hope alone.

Time off could be decisive

The report suggests the expected period out could be key to the possible signing. In practical terms, that means the club may have to decide whether Rodri remains worth pursuing if he cannot contribute early in the season.

Real Madrid have a major decision to make. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

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From Jose Mourinho’s perspective, a midfielder of Rodri’s profile would make obvious tactical sense.

His positioning, control and ability to dictate games would add another layer to a squad that already has enormous physical power.

However, his fitness has been a major problem ever since his ACL injury.

Real Madrid must be cautious

As good as Rodri has been, and as much as he may want to wear Real Madrid’s white, the club need to make decisions in their best interests.

Signing a player who has just undergone surgery on his back, irrespective of how good a World Cup he had, is not a wise decision.

Real Madrid need to be clever this summer and, if that means missing out on Rodri, that is a blow they need to accept. It remains to be seen how the club go about making this decision.