After seven years in England, Rodri is returning to his home country. His move to FC Barcelona is imminent. The defensive midfielder already commented on the transfer at the airport.
Rodri’s return to Manchester City following a successful World Cup was very brief. After the midfielder landed in Manchester on Friday as expected following his extended vacation, he took off again on Monday bound for Spain—more specifically, Barcelona. His physical will take place there on Tuesday.
Originally, the Spanish champions wanted to finalize the deal as early as Friday, but Man City rejected the initial offers. It wasn’t until the third offer that the two parties reached an agreement. According to a report by The Athletic, FC Barcelona will transfer a transfer fee of 87.8 million euros to England for the best player of the last World Cup, provided Rodri passes his medical exam. Fans could see him in the stadium for the first time as early as Wednesday during the traditional Gamper Cup.
The player himself has no doubts about it—at least, that’s what his comments at the airport suggest. “I’m happy. It’s been an intense few days, but I’m glad everything is settled now. Of course, it’s a dream to play for Barcelona,” the 30-year-old, whose contract with the Sky Blues originally ran through 2027, is quoted as saying by Marca.
With Barcelona, the captain of the Spanish national team has big goals. “The Champions League? We want it all,” says Rodri. The defensive midfielder knows better than anyone how it’s done. In 2023, he played a major role in the Cityzens’ treble.
For the Madrid native, this marks his third stint in Spain’s top flight. After making his La Liga debut for Villarreal in 2013, Rodri also played for Atlético Madrid before joining Man City in 2019. Under Pep Guardiola, he won nearly every title available. In addition to numerous titles, including four English championships, he has also received individual honors. He was named the best player of the Champions League season in 2023 and won the Ballon d’Or in 2024.
