Manchester City midfielder Rodri has agreed to join Barcelona in a £64.5million transfer, turning down a move to their historic rivals Real Madrid. The transfer sees one of the premier defensive midfielders in world football swap the Premier League for Spain's top flight.
The LaLiga champions are close to finalising the agreement with Manchester City. Barcelona hope to officially unveil the Spanish international at the Camp Nou on Wednesday, with Daily Mail Sport reporting that he is expected to sign a four-year contract.
The former Ballon d'Or winner had long viewed Real Madrid as his 'dream move'. According to Spanish newspaper Marca, Rodri initially wanted to join them from their city rivals Atletico in 2019. He ultimately moved to England after realising a realistic offer from the Bernabeu club was not going to materialise.
Real Madrid revived their interest following the World Cup, where Rodri was crowned as the best player of the tournament. However, despite vocal demands from Real Madrid fans to secure his signature this summer, that enthusiasm was not shared across the club hierarchy.
Diverging recruitment strategies
The effort to bring Rodri to the Spanish capital was limited to calls from Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and chief executive Jose Angel Sanchez. The club's manager, Jose Mourinho, did not contact him, having reportedly spent earlier parts of the summer repeatedly calling Bernardo Silva and Marc Cucurella to pursue their signatures.
Real Madrid also harboured internal doubts over the transfer. According to reports, critics within the club claimed the midfielder 'lingers on the ball too long' and argued that the team needed a 'more dynamic player' in the centre of the pitch.
Rodri sensed this lack of commitment, which contrasted sharply with the approach taken by Barcelona. The Catalan club launched a coordinated effort to bring him to the Nou Camp. Manager Hansi Flick, president Joan Laporta, sporting director Deco and several squad members all called him directly to pitch their sporting project.
Contrasting fortunes in Spain
Both Spanish giants presented Rodri with the exact same financial offer, leaving the decision down to sporting factors. The midfielder ultimately preferred the playing style and stability offered by Barcelona, who enter the new campaign as back-to-back LaLiga winners.
Real Madrid, by contrast, endured a nightmare conclusion to their previous season. Their campaign was derailed by much publicised in-fighting within the camp, leading to concerns that the club's current setup resembles a 'ticking time bomb'.
The £64.5million transfer brings an end to a trophy laden era for Rodri at the Etihad Stadium. During his time in Manchester, the club has dominated English football, winning four Premier League titles, two FA Cups and three Carabao Cups.
His contributions also extended to international club competitions. Rodri helped Manchester City win the UEFA Super Cup, the Club World Cup, and the 2023 Champions League.
