- Barcelona have reached a verbal agreement with Manchester City for Rodri in a €76.5m deal, with the midfielder set to sign a four-year contract.
Barcelona has reached a verbal agreement with Manchester City to sign World Cup winner Rodri from the English club, according to Fabrizio Romano. The reported package for the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner is €76.5 million, with €60 million as a fixed fee plus a majority of add-ons considered achievable, as per David Ornstein.
Rodri chose Barcelona over Real Madrid
Rodri had already agreed to personal terms with Barcelona on August 6. After a dramatic turn of events, he already had a broad agreement in place with Real Madrid but rejected Los Blancos when Barcelona approached the player with serious interest.
He is set to sign a 4-year contract with the Catalans, and the club wants him to be present at training facilities on Wednesday if there are no delays in paperwork. Rodri entered the last year of his contract with Manchester City, and he decided to push for a new challenge despite City being ready to lose the player for free next summer.
The package of €76.5 million is considered excellent for a player who has a contract.
Why Rodri is so important to Flick's plans
For the Blaugrana, signing the 30-year-old defensive midfielder will be crucial in Flick's mission to bring the Champions League title to Camp Nou after 12 years. Rodri would give Barcelona the control and defensive security they have been missing in midfield. His ability to dictate play from deep could allow Pedri and Frenkie de Jong to spend more time in advanced areas, while his positioning and experience would provide greater protection in front of the defense.
Rodri led the Spanish national team to a World Cup triumph after 16 years in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He captained the side and won the golden ball for best player in the tournament. He was also a key player for the team during their Euro Cup-winning campaign, where he also won the best player award.
Barcelona views Rodri as the key player who could elevate their midfield to a level that enables them to win the Champions League, rather than simply being an experienced signing.
Meanwhile, Manchester City are pushing to sign 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi to replace Rodri in the midfield and are also considering an offer for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández.