Following Rodri‘s remarkable leadership that propelled Spain to achieve FIFA World Cup victory, it’s hardly surprising that LaLiga powerhouses Barcelona and Real Madrid are eager to acquire the Manchester City midfielder this summer.
The 30-year-old not only captained La Roja to a stunning victory over Lionel Messi‘s Argentina in the World Cup final, adding to Spain’s UEFA European Championship title from two years prior, but also earned the Golden Ball award as the tournament’s best player.
During his seven years at City, Rodri has secured 13 trophies, including four Premier League titles and netted the decisive goal in the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League final. The following year, he clinched the prestigious Ballon d’Or, solidifying his reputation as one of the world’s elite midfielders.
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Rodri began his journey in football through the youth ranks at Villarreal and Atlético Madrid, accumulating over 120 senior appearances with both clubs before making his move to City in 2019.
Now hailed as a national hero with just one year left on his City contract, a return to LaLiga seems imminent for Rodri. The pressing questions are: Where will he go? Could he possibly stay in Manchester for another year?
ESPN’s correspondents from Barcelona (Sam Marsden), Madrid (Alex Kirkland and Rodra), and Manchester (Rob Dawson) shed light on this developing situation and the likely next steps.
1:08
Where would Rodri fit in at Barcelona?
Rodri has long been viewed as the ideal successor to Sergio Busquets, who departed Barcelona to join Messi at Inter Miami CF in 2023 before announcing his retirement last year. However, Barcelona hadn’t initially planned on pursuing Rodri this summer.
As discussions intensified, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick and sporting director Deco expressed keen interest upon discovering that Rodri preferred them to Madrid. Despite Rodri’s long-standing aspiration to return to Spain, it was widely believed that Madrid would be his destination. However, after winning the World Cup alongside eight Barcelona players and feeling drawn to Flick’s playing style, he began to reconsider his options.
With club sources confirming a tentative agreement on personal terms with Rodri, confidence is rising that Barcelona will secure the services of the former Villarreal and Atlético player. The next step involves negotiating a deal with City, with initial offers having been rejected and discussions ongoing for a package that might reach €70 million.
While circumstances can change quickly, there is strong belief that Rodri would enhance a midfield already rich in talent alongside Pedri, Gavi, Marc Bernal, Fermín López, and Dani Olmo. The primary concern is how this would affect De Jong upon his return from injury; however, club insiders are optimistic that Rodri’s addition—prioritized over a center-back, though a defensive signing is still possible—will elevate Flick’s squad to new heights in Europe, as they chase their first Champions League title since 2015. — Sam Marsden
Real Madrid’s relationship with Rodri has taken an unexpected turn, with his potential move shifting from the Bernabéu towards Barcelona last week.
For months, club representatives maintained that Rodri wasn’t a target for this summer’s transfer window. Despite being a perfect fit—a world-class player with a year remaining on his contract—there were concerns regarding his fitness. Reports indicated that Madrid president Florentino Pérez was unsure about Rodri’s injury history and that coach José Mourinho preferred different profiles. Ultimately, Rodri was not a leading candidate for their midfield reinforcements while renewing Aurélien Tchouaméni‘s contract indicated faith in existing options.
However, Rodri’s stellar World Cup performance challenged previous assumptions about his fitness, prompting a shift in perspectives at the Bernabéu. Director general José Ángel Sánchez and chief scout Juni Calafat became more receptive to the idea of bringing him onboard.
As interest grew, there was cautious optimism about Rodri’s signing by late July. Sources indicated he was eager to return home, but City was searching for a replacement midfielder first, and no agreement had been established regarding his transfer fee.
Days went by with little communication until suddenly, Barcelona surfaced as a contender. It quickly evolved into a situation where it seemed equally likely that Rodri could end up at either Madrid or Barcelona. Rodri expressed openness to either move.
However, the circumstances worsened for Madrid in the following days as they realized they might have lost their chance. Sources suggested that Rodri sensed lingering doubts about him within the club, contrasting with Flick’s direct outreach, which detailed his vision for Rodri’s future.
Madrid contemplated making a final attempt to secure Rodri, but it appeared to be too late. His camp reportedly expressed disappointment over Madrid’s hesitance to finalize a deal.
Unless there are unexpected developments, it seems Rodri is off the table for Madrid. The club now faces choices about pursuing alternatives or sticking with their current squad, with some speculating that Mourinho might target Bernardo Silva for a central midfield role alongside Tchouaméni or Federico Valverde. — Alex Kirkland and Rodra
0:45
Nicol: It’s time for Rodri to leave Manchester City
Manchester City’s public position, as conveyed by manager Enzo Maresca, is straightforward: Rodri is an essential player, and they hope he remains and signs a new contract.
Behind the scenes, however, the situation is more nuanced.
City has been aware of Rodri’s intention to eventually return to Spain for quite some time. This played a role in their decision to sign Kalvin Phillips from Leeds United back in 2022, although that acquisition didn’t pan out as hoped.
City prides itself on never holding onto players who wish to leave. Additionally, Rodri’s age, his recent injury history, and his contract status are all pertinent factors. With his contract expiring next summer, he could depart the Etihad for free in a year.
If either Barcelona or Real Madrid returns with an offer exceeding €70 million, City would likely engage in negotiations. They are not inclined to agree to a bargain price and must also consider potential replacements. Given uncertainties surrounding the futures of Tijjani Reijnders and Nico González, they may need to bolster their midfield before the transfer window closes.
Meanwhile, City remains patient. They haven’t yet received any offers they deem acceptable, leaving them in a holding pattern. Preliminary checks on potential targets in case Rodri departs are underway. While there is an increasing belief that he may leave, it’s now up to Barcelona or Real Madrid to present a compelling offer. — Rob Dawson