Recently revealed that FC Barcelona have stolen a march on rival Real Madrid in the race to sign Manchester City midfielder Rodri. After direct contact with both the player’s camp and City’s hierarchy, Barcelona appear to hold the upper hand in securing the 30-year-old Spain international.
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## Real Madrid’s negotiations hit roadblocks
Real Madrid had been actively negotiating with Manchester City over Rodri, reportedly trying to bring the transfer fee down from City’s asking price of €75 million. However, talks broke down because the two clubs could not settle on that valuation, stalling the deal.
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## How Barcelona seized their chance
Once it became clear Real Madrid’s discussions had stalled, Barcelona’s leadership acted quickly. Spearheaded by sporting director Deco, Barca initiated direct dialogue with Rodri’s representatives and Manchester City’s leadership.
Now, both Barcelona and Real Madrid reportedly emerged with near-identical financial offers to Manchester City. With City’s price tag standing firm, the deciding factor has shifted to Rodri himself.
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## Personal terms, loyalty and doubts
Rodri had already engaged in verbal agreement over personal contract terms with Real Madrid, largely motivated by his desire to return to his native city. Despite that, Barcelona’s renewed pitch introduces serious competition—especially given the role they are promising him.
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## Influence from within: Spain teammates weigh in
A pivotal element in Barcelona’s late pursuit has emerged from Rodri’s national squad. A number of his Spain teammates, who currently play for Barca, have reportedly reached out to him, urging him to reconsider the move to Madrid.
These calls aren’t just sentimental. Barcelona are offering Rodri a leading midfield role under Hansi Flick, encouraging him to become the backbone of their setup—especially during a period when key player Frenkie de Jong remains sidelined with a serious injury.
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## Rodri’s decision looms
Although Barcelona appear to have overtaken Real Madrid in the pursuit, the final decision rests with Rodri. He is currently weighing both offers, considering the financial terms, sporting opportunities, and his long-term career ambitions.
As things stand, Barcelona have the edge—but it isn’t sealed yet.
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