Rodri completes Barcelona move from Manchester City
Rodri has expressed his excitement about joining Barcelona, describing the move as a dream. The Spain international arrived in Catalonia on Monday to finalise his transfer from Manchester City, with a medical scheduled for Tuesday. His arrival follows City’s acceptance of Barcelona’s third bid for the player.
Speaking at Barcelona’s El Prat airport, Rodri stated his happiness that the transfer had been resolved after several intense days. He also mentioned his eagerness to join his new teammates, many of whom he already knows, and his commitment to performing his best for the club.
Rodri, a Ballon d’Or winner and World Cup champion, will wear the number 16 shirt at Barcelona. This number was previously worn by Fermín López, who will now take the number 7 shirt. López spoke about his fondness for the number 16 but expressed confidence that it would be in safe hands with Rodri. López also praised Rodri, calling him the best holding midfielder in the world and highlighting his experience playing alongside him with the national team.
The 30-year-old midfielder was in the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium and had indicated his desire to move to Barcelona. City had initially been reluctant to sell but faced limited options given Rodri’s contract situation. Barcelona’s successful bid of £65.4m came after City had previously rejected offers of around €60m (£51m) and an initial €45m (£38.5m).
Enzo Maresca, speaking after City’s 3-0 Community Shield defeat by Arsenal, had described Rodri as a “top player” and noted that “all the teams need Rodri.” Despite this, City were unable to convince him to sign a new contract. Rodri had returned to the club on Friday, having undergone back surgery following the World Cup, with Maresca mentioning he had given him a “big hug” upon their first meeting.
Rodri spent seven seasons with City, during which he won the Premier League four times. He notably scored the only goal in City’s victory over Inter in the 2023 Champions League final. The following year, he received the Ballon d’Or, though he was sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament injury at the time, which kept him out for much of the 2024-25 campaign. Hamstring and groin issues further restricted him to 33 appearances during Pep Guardiola’s final season in charge.
City has seen significant changes in their midfield this summer. They spent £116m on Elliot Anderson and agreed to sell Tijjani Reijnders to Al Qadsiah. The club is also reportedly close to securing a deal for Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille. Bouaddi, a teenager who impressed at the World Cup, was initially sought by Lille to include a 12-month loan deal back to the French side. However, with the departures of Bernardo Silva and Rodri, Maresca is reportedly keen to bolster his midfield options for the current season and wants Bouaddi available immediately. City has also been linked with Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández.
Fermín López also commented on Julián Álvarez, a player reportedly targeted by coach Hansi Flick and sporting director Deco, despite Atlético Madrid’s reluctance to sell him to Barcelona. López expressed his admiration for Álvarez, describing him as a wonderful player and suggesting he would fit perfectly with Barcelona’s style of play. He also bid farewell to former teammate Ferran Torres, who moved to Paris Saint-Germain for 50 million euros, wishing him well in his new endeavour.
Rodri’s medical examination is scheduled for Tuesday.
Source: goal.com
As NewsUK's Senior Football Correspondent, Thomas Beckwith reports on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side for readers across the country. He reported on three World Cups for a national news agency. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Sheffield Hallam University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Thomas lives in Sheffield, where he watches lower-league football most weekends. “Football writing is about the decisions, not just the result.”
