Rodri has said yes to Barcelona – now a huge battle awaits for the midfield star
He is the reigning Ballon d’Or winner, World Cup king and one of the world’s best midfielders. Now Rodri could be on his way to Barcelona – and the transfer could be the talk of the summer.
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The 30-year-old has already given the green light to a move to Camp Nou. At the same time, Real Madrid are lurking, and the future of the Spanish national team captain is still wide open.
Hansi Flick called personally – and convinced
Rodri has become a main target for Barcelona under Hansi Flick. According to Sport, the German coach himself contacted the player to explain what role he would have in the project – while the club is working hard to make ends meet.
The midfielder’s contract with Manchester City expires at the end of the season, and so far he has not extended. It has opened the door for several big clubs, although Barcelona have not yet made an official bid.
Rodri comes with enormous weight – he won the Ballon d’Or, was named the tournament’s best player at the last World Cup, and remains one of the world’s most complete midfielders. Despite the fact that he only has one year left on his contract, his value remains sky-high.
Real Madrid still in the game
The interest from Real Madrid is by no means dead. In the weeks leading up to this, the Whites were touted as the big favourite to secure the Spaniard – but negotiations with City have stalled. That has given Barcelona an opening.
Several sources reported on Thursday that Barcelona have already informed both the player’s team and Manchester City that they want to make a competitive bid if Rodri decides to leave the Etihad.
How large the bid will be is currently unknown. British media estimate that the transfer fee will be around £60 million – a lower price than normal, precisely because the contract is about to expire.
Manchester City awaits in suspense
While Barcelona and Real Madrid are monitoring the situation closely, Manchester City are sitting and hoping that the star player stays. The English have still not received a definitive answer from Rodri – and his decision is attracting enormous attention across Europe.
Now it remains to be seen whether Barcelona will be able to convert Rodri’s alleged yes to a formal offer. In that case, tough negotiations with City await – while Real Madrid are still lurking in the wings, ready to strike if the opportunity arises. The overdrama of the summer is far from over.
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