Manchester City’s midfield lynchpin, Rodri, has reportedly chosen to join Barcelona, ending a high-stakes transfer battle with rivals Real Madrid. The 30-year-old’s decision, communicated directly to Real Madrid, paves the way for a summer move to Camp Nou.
According to AS, Rodri definitively opted for a transfer to Barcelona. Despite holding talks with Real Madrid, where he showed “utmost respect for the club,” he lacked “complete conviction” about a move to the Santiago Bernabéu. Real Madrid, who had viewed Rodri as a “very interesting player” due to his ability, charisma, captaincy, and international prominence, ultimately understood his explanations and conceded defeat in their pursuit. Jose Mourinho, Real Madrid’s manager, was kept informed and reportedly believes he can find a solution within his current squad, which includes midfield anchor options like Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga.
A deep connection to the Blaugrana philosophy
Rodri’s preference for Hansi Flick’s La Liga champions stems from a profound connection to Pep Guardiola’s footballing philosophy, Barcelona’s distinctive style of play, and the club’s significant coexistence with the Spanish national team. The midfielder has previously spoken of his admiration for Guardiola’s iconic Barcelona side and his ambition to emulate, and even surpass, legendary Blaugrana pivot Sergio Busquets.
“I want to be better than Busquets. I wanted to be better than him, and you’re talking about the best pivot of all time. Everything that comes will be good. And getting close is already good…,” Rodri told Mundo Deportivo in October 2023, where he also hailed Busquets as “the best defensive midfielder of all time.” His reverence for Guardiola is equally strong: “He is the most influential coach of my career. He has elevated me to a level I didn’t know I could reach.”
Barcelona’s financial commitment for a world-class talent
With just one year remaining on his contract at Manchester City, Rodri is expected to command a transfer fee of around €60 million (£50 million), as reported by AS. Barcelona is reportedly preparing a four-year deal for the Spanish international, worth approximately €30 million (£25.7m) per year. This substantial package would place him among the highest-paid players at Barcelona, alongside talents like Lamine Yamal and Raphinha.
Rodri will depart Manchester City as one of the club’s greatest players, having secured every major trophy on offer. His tenure was highlighted by scoring the crucial winner in the 2023 Champions League final, a goal that sealed a historic treble for Guardiola’s side. He also won the 2024 Ballon d’Or and the World Cup Golden Ball for his stellar performances. Should the deal materialize, Rodri would become the second player this summer to move to Catalonia from the Premier League, following Anthony Gordon’s £69.3 million arrival from Newcastle United.
Read also: Rodri turns down Real Madrid's 'unrefusable' offer to join Barcelona, agent says
