Barcelona have launched a high-stakes attempt to hijack Real Madrid's pursuit of Manchester City midfielder Rodri, who has already reached a comprehensive personal agreement on contract terms with Los Blancos.
A market opportunity for Barcelona has emerged, considering Rodri is in the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium. This comes after the recent injury blow to Frenkie de Jong, which could keep him out for the rest of 2026, leading to speculations about his long-term future at the club.
Rodri's performance at the FIFA World Cup, where he captured the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player, has made him a highly sought-after player. His unmatched tactical discipline, physical dominance, and elite ball-retention skills would elevate the team's central core as Hansi Flick & co. push for the elusive UEFA Champions League trophy.
Barcelona never signed a player to replace club legend Sergio Busquets, and Rodri could be the rightful heir to the former Spain great. The club's sporting department, led by Deco, can rely on a distinct sporting pitch to turn the midfielder's head.
Manchester City are under immense pressure, as Rodri has officially entered the final 12 months of his contract at the Etihad Stadium. Because City must secure a sale this summer to avoid losing him for free next year, Barcelona are looking to exploit this contractual vulnerability.
In addition to Real Madrid, Barcelona will also have to compete with PSG, who have already made enquiries with the Cityzens for the midfield general. Rodri has previously expressed a clear desire to return to La Liga before the end of his career.
Barcelona's sporting department is confident in their ability to convince Rodri to choose Catalonia over Real Madrid. The club can offer Rodri the absolute, undisputed leadership of Flick's midfield, alongside Pedri and the lure of joining a project that has already brought in a lot of success over the past couple of seasons compared to Real Madrid.
The transfer battle for Rodri is far from settled, with multiple clubs vying for his signature. Barcelona's move to hijack Real Madrid's attempt to sign him has added a new layer of complexity to the situation.
Source: Yahoo Sports
