Barcelona have officially signed Spain midfielder Rodri from Manchester City in a deal worth £65.4m, bringing one of the leading players of the Premier League era to the LaLiga club.
The 30-year-old has agreed a four-year contract with Barcelona after City accepted their third offer for the Spain World Cup winner and former Ballon d’Or winner.
Rodri played a major role in Manchester City’s success during his time at the club, helping them win four Premier League titles and the Champions League. He joined City from Atletico Madrid ahead of the 2019-20 season and established himself as a key figure in their midfield.
The midfielder had one year remaining on his contract at the Etihad Stadium. Manchester City wanted him to stay and had hoped to agree an extension, but Barcelona’s latest proposal was considered too good to reject.
Barcelona had previously seen offers of £40m and £55m turned down before the two clubs reached an agreement.
Rodri’s departure leaves City facing the task of replacing a player whose influence has been reflected in the club’s results. Since his arrival, City have lost 20 of the 87 matches in which he was not included in the starting line-up.
That figure is only one defeat fewer than the number suffered in their 179 matches when Rodri started. Their defeat rate doubled when he was absent from the opening XI.
City’s win percentage also fell from 71.5% when Rodri started to 62.1% without him. Their goalscoring figures declined in his absence, while the number of goals conceded increased.
The club’s 3-0 defeat by Arsenal in the Community Shield was the latest example of the challenge facing them without Rodri in midfield.
Manchester City consider midfield replacements
Manchester City are now pursuing possible replacements for Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders, who is set to move to Saudi Arabian club Al Qadsiah for about £51m.
City remain interested in Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, although they missed the deadline to submit a bid by 17:00 on 14 August.
They are also negotiating with Lille over a potential move for Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi. Lille are understood to want about £85m for the midfielder, while talks between the clubs were confirmed by their head coach Davide Ancelotti at the weekend.
The departures of Rodri and Reijnders would leave Manchester City needing to reshape their midfield, with the club still exploring options in the transfer market.
For Barcelona, the signing represents a major addition to their squad. Rodri arrives with a record of domestic and European success, international honours with Spain and individual recognition as a former Ballon d’Or winner.
His move also ends his Manchester City career after a period in which he became central to the team’s possession-based style and their achievements under manager Enzo Maresca’s side. Barcelona will now begin the next chapter of his career after securing the midfielder on a four-year agreement.
