Barcelona have entered the race to sign Manchester City midfielder Rodri after Hansi Flick spoke to the Spain international by phone to outline the club’s sporting project and try to persuade him to prioritise a move to Camp Nou.
According to Spanish newspaper Sport, the conversation took place in recent hours and underlines the seriousness of Barcelona’s interest. It has also altered the direction of the negotiations, particularly as Real Madrid have been slow to take decisive steps towards completing a deal.
Rodri had previously appeared increasingly likely to join Real Madrid, with the indications over recent weeks pointing towards a move to the Spanish capital. However, Sport says the 29-year-old is no longer ruling out a transfer to Barcelona, leaving the two Spanish rivals competing openly for his signature.
Barcelona view Rodri as an outstanding opportunity in the transfer market, although the club does not intend to pay an excessive fee to secure the deal. The Catalan side remain convinced of his quality and believe he could play a major role in Flick’s plans.
Sport reports that Barcelona sporting director Deco has continued to maintain contact with people close to the player. He has also made initial enquiries with one of Manchester City’s officials to establish the Premier League club’s position.
Those efforts have reportedly intensified in recent days, with Barcelona seeking to understand whether a deal could be possible before progressing to formal financial negotiations.
Flick is not the only figure at Barcelona attempting to influence Rodri’s decision. Several players, led by Lamine Yamal, have spoken to him during Spain gatherings, both during the World Cup and afterwards.
They are said to have described the atmosphere within Barcelona’s dressing room and praised the project being developed under Flick, in an effort to convince Rodri that moving to Camp Nou would be the right next step in his career.
Barcelona’s primary transfer priority remains strengthening their attack. Nevertheless, the club does not want to miss the chance to sign a player of Rodri’s stature.
The midfielder is regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders in world football and is the winner of the Ballon d’Or. He also has only one year remaining on his contract with Manchester City, a factor that could make his situation particularly significant in the transfer market.
Barcelona are now waiting for a final indication from Rodri before deciding whether to move into talks over the financial details of a potential transfer. Club officials appreciate that the player has currently paused his discussions with Real Madrid in order to consider all of his options.
However, Barcelona also recognise that the situation is unlikely to remain unresolved for long. Sport says Rodri’s decision to suspend talks with Real Madrid has created an opportunity for the Catalan club, but that the window to influence his choice may be limited.
The newspaper concludes that Barcelona’s entry into the race has changed the balance of the transfer battle. What had appeared to be a deal heading towards Real Madrid is now open, with Rodri’s next destination still undecided.
