Manchester City midfielder Rodri has agreed personal terms with Barcelona after negotiations between the English club and Real Madrid reached a deadlock. According to Spanish and British media reports, the 30-year-old international chose a move to Camp Nou, and his agent has informed Real Madrid of his decision. Barcelona must now agree a transfer fee with Manchester City, expected to be between 50 million and 70 million euros, to complete the deal.
Rodri has one year remaining on his contract at Etihad Stadium, meaning Manchester City must sell him this summer to receive a transfer fee if he does not extend his deal. The midfielder won the 2024 Ballon d'Or after suffering a severe knee ligament injury that kept him out for nearly two years. He accepted that award on crutches before returning to win the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, where he was named the tournament's best player.
Spanish newspaper Marca reported that Catalan media are extremely enthusiastic about the move. One Marca commentator stated that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez would have to explain himself to supporters if he lost the World Cup winner to Barcelona, while another asked how a club without money could trick Real Madrid. Relations between Barcelona and Manchester City are described as excellent, whereas talks between Real Madrid and Manchester City broke down after weeks of negotiations.
Real Madrid transfer activity
Real Madrid sought Rodri to solve combination play problems in central midfield that contributed to painful losses over the past two seasons, aiming to fill roles previously held by Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho was brought in from Benfica Lisbon for 15 million euros this summer. The club also signed free agents Bernardo Silva from Manchester City and Ibrahima Konate from Liverpool, alongside full-backs Denzel Dumfries from Inter Milan and Marc Cucurella from Chelsea for a combined 75 million euros. Following the World Cup, Cucurella stated that Rodri was the player Real Madrid needed most.
Real Madrid also extended the contract of Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior for six years following lengthy negotiations, securing him a net salary of around 25 million euros per season. Additionally, Real Madrid took advantage of stalled talks between RB Leipzig and Paris Saint-Germain to sign 19-year-old Ivorian winger Yan Diomande for 125 million euros, a fee that could rise to 140 million euros with add-ons. The deal represents the most expensive and questionable transfer in Real Madrid history because the club prioritized another winger over a central midfielder.
Barcelona squad situation and transfer targets
Barcelona already possess strong creative options in midfield under manager Hansi Flick, despite Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong undergoing treatment for a severe injury. Adding Rodri alongside Pedri would give Barcelona what is considered Europe's top central midfield partnership while simultaneously weakening their main rival. A journalist for Barcelona newspaper Sport reported that acquiring Rodri and Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez would overshadow all of Real Madrid's recent signings.
However, Atletico Madrid refuse to negotiate for Alvarez, despite the player's desire to join Barcelona, and have reported Barcelona to the Spanish federation and FIFA for contacting him without permission. Meanwhile, Barcelona face their own contract dispute with Ferran Torres, who scored Spain's winning goal in the World Cup final. Torres wants to join Paris Saint-Germain, and with his contract running until mid-2027, Barcelona must sell him this summer or risk losing him for free in a year if he refuses an extension.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta still has at least three weeks to address squad needs, with a striker and a centre-back remaining higher priorities than another midfielder. Barcelona spent 100 million euros on former Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon and former Borussia Dortmund winger Karim Adeyemi, but the club still lacks a long-term successor for Robert Lewandowski. Nevertheless, media across Spain note that losing Rodri to a debt-ridden Barcelona would be a major sporting and public relations setback for Real Madrid, currently the world's richest club.
