Barcelona Set to Sign Rodri from Manchester City in Major Transfer Deal

Barcelona Finalizes Agreement for Rodri

Barcelona, Spain - August 17: Reports indicate that Barcelona has reached a preliminary agreement to acquire Rodri, the Manchester City star, as confirmed by multiple sources to a leading sports network.

After two unsuccessful attempts to secure Rodri, the La Liga champions made a renewed offer over the weekend, totaling £76.5 million (approximately $65.3 million). Sources revealed on Sunday that negotiations have progressed, with paperwork exchanged and the deal nearing completion.

The 30-year-old midfielder is anticipated to arrive in Barcelona shortly and may be unveiled as a new signing ahead of the Joan Gamper Trophy match against Al Ahly at Camp Nou on Wednesday.

This agreement follows news that fullback Joao Cancelo is also on track to return to Barcelona, marking these two as potential fourth and fifth signings of the season, joining Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi, and Jesse Bisiwu.

Additionally, the club is in pursuit of a striker, eyeing Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez, especially after the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres. Initially, Rodri was not part of Barcelona's plans, but the opportunity arose after he made himself available following Spain's FIFA World Cup victory.

Frenkie de Jong's long-term injury has prompted Barcelona to explore new midfield options in the transfer market.

Real Madrid, Barcelona's fierce rivals, had also shown interest in Rodri, but the player expressed a preference for joining Barcelona.

Rodri is seen as a significant signing for Barcelona, with hopes that he can elevate the back-to-back La Liga champions to new heights. After successful stints at Villarreal and Atletico Madrid, Rodri joined Manchester City in 2019, where he has built an impressive resume, including four Premier League titles and a Champions League title, along with European Championships and the FIFA World Cup with Spain. He was also honored as the 'Player of the Tournament' in both of Spain's championship victories.

His success at the Euros led to Rodri receiving the Ballon d'Or in 2024.