Nine years on, Rodri could finally become a Barcelona player if the Catalan club’s latest negotiations succeed. The Spain international has reportedly moved back into Barcelona’s sights after appearing close to joining Real Madrid only a short time ago.
Barcelona’s renewed approach is partly driven by the prolonged absence of Netherlands midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who is recovering from injury. The club are looking for reinforcements in the position and have identified Rodri as a possible solution.
According to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona first considered Rodri when he was 21 and playing for Villarreal. He had come through the youth system at Atletico de Madrid before making an impression with Villarreal and Spain Under-21s.
At that stage, Barcelona viewed him as a potential successor to Sergio Busquets, who had established himself as one of the most influential holding midfielders in the club’s history. However, the Spanish club did not act quickly enough.
The original approach came in December 2017, when Barcelona began making enquiries about Rodri’s availability. By the time discussions became serious, the midfielder had already given his initial approval to return to Atletico de Madrid.
That move was not officially announced until May 2018. Before leaving Villarreal, Rodri had extended his contract with the club until June 2022, while his release clause was increased from €12m to €25m.
Mundo Deportivo reported that Villarreal raised the clause after recognising that several clubs, including Barcelona, were monitoring the player. The change gave the club a better opportunity to secure a substantial fee if Rodri eventually departed.
Rodri ultimately joined Atletico for €25m, with €20m paid as a fixed fee and a further €5m linked to variables and incentives.
His time in Madrid lasted only one season. In the summer of 2019, Manchester City triggered the €70m release clause in his Atletico contract and brought him to the Premier League.
Rodri has since become one of Manchester City’s most important players. His influence reached its peak in 2024, when he won the Ballon d’Or and helped Spain win the European Championship.
The midfielder now has one year remaining on his Manchester City contract. Barcelona are keen to complete a deal, having entered negotiations at a time when Rodri had appeared increasingly likely to move to Real Madrid.
The developing situation has also prompted renewed discussion around Rodri’s future and the choice between Spain’s two biggest clubs. The player’s representatives have been involved in the debate over whether he could join Real Madrid or Barcelona, with the latter now pushing strongly to secure his signature.
Should Barcelona complete the transfer, the club would finally close a chapter that began almost nine years earlier. In 2017, they identified Rodri as the player who could eventually replace Busquets, but their interest came too late to prevent his return to Atletico de Madrid.
Now, with Rodri established as a Ballon d’Or winner and a key figure for both Manchester City and Spain, Barcelona have another opportunity to sign the midfielder they first tried to recruit at the beginning of his senior career.
