Barcelona agree £65m deal to sign Rodri from Man City
Barcelona Finalise £65m Agreement to Bring Rodri Away from Manchester City
Ninoda.com – The Spanish champions have reached a deal worth approximately £65 million to acquire Spain midfielder Rodri from Manchester City. The 30-year-old, who claimed the Ballon d'Or in 2024, is expected to commit to a four-year contract with Barcelona within days.
Rodri steered Spain to their second world title this summer and was named player of the tournament after fully recovering his form following a turbulent injury-plagued season.
Seven Seasons at the Etihad
Having arrived from Atletico Madrid in 2019 for a then-club-record fee of £62.8 million, Rodri featured in 298 matches over seven decorated campaigns with City. Across those years he collected 12 major trophies, encompassing four league titles, two FA Cups, three League Cups, and the 2022-23 Champions League.
A serious knee injury cost him much of the 2024-25 season, while hamstring trouble further interrupted stretches of last campaign. Yet by the time the World Cup arrived, he had regained full match fitness and led his country to glory.
Negotiations and Rejection
City dismissed Barcelona's opening £38.5 million approach last week — a moment when Rodri was about to slip into the final season of his Etihad deal. Real Madrid appeared poised to land him before La Liga rivals intensified their pursuit over recent days.
Maresca's Reaction
Speaking following Sunday's Community Shield defeat to Arsenal, new manager Enzo Maresca addressed the departure:
"Rodri is a player who just won the World Cup and Ballon d'Or."
"He's a top player, all the teams need a Rodri, so it's not about if we miss Rodri or not."
Bouaddi Rumours Persist
Talk surrounding Manchester City's interest in 18-year-old Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi has persisted throughout the summer. The club are reportedly in discussions with Lille over a move estimated at £85 million, and the teenager is understood to welcome the switch.
Bouaddi operates as a deep-lying conductor — a role closely mirroring Rodri's — and would slot
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