Rodri has agreed personal contract terms with Barcelona, according to a report by Italian journalist Matteo Moretto, after becoming frustrated by the lack of decisive action from Real Madrid.
The Manchester City midfielder has reached an understanding with the Catalan club over the conditions of a potential move. Barcelona have also given Rodri assurances about their plans to negotiate with Manchester City for his transfer.
The Spanish club’s leadership is expected to make official contact with Manchester City in the coming hours, with the intention of opening discussions over a deal for the midfielder.
Rodri’s agreement with Barcelona concerns his personal terms and does not, by itself, complete a transfer. Manchester City would still have to negotiate with Barcelona before any move could be finalised.
Moretto reports that Rodri had been waiting for Real Madrid to take more concrete steps regarding their interest. With the Madrid club yet to make the decisive move he was expecting, the midfielder has instead reached an agreement with Barcelona.
The report says the guarantees provided by Barcelona regarding negotiations with Manchester City were an important factor in Rodri’s decision. The midfielder has therefore chosen to commit himself to the Catalan club while the two clubs prepare to discuss the transfer.
Rodri was also influenced by team-mates from the Spain national team, who encouraged him to choose Barcelona. Their advice played a significant role in persuading the midfielder to favour the club over the other option available to him.
The next stage of the process will be Barcelona’s approach to Manchester City. Until those talks begin and an agreement is reached between the clubs, Rodri remains a Manchester City player.
Barcelona’s interest has now moved beyond an approach focused solely on the player’s wishes, with the club preparing to engage directly with his current employers. Rodri’s personal agreement gives Barcelona a clear position in the negotiations, but the outcome will depend on whether the clubs can reach terms for the transfer.
Real Madrid’s failure to make the progress Rodri wanted has opened the way for Barcelona to move into a stronger position. The midfielder has been waiting for a clear indication of the Madrid club’s intentions, but has now opted to agree terms with Barcelona instead.
The coming hours are expected to be important, as Barcelona begin the formal process of contacting Manchester City. The Catalan club will seek to turn Rodri’s personal agreement into a completed transfer by negotiating a deal with the Premier League side.
For now, the key development is that Rodri has chosen Barcelona as his preferred destination and agreed the conditions of a contract with the club. The remaining discussions will involve Barcelona and Manchester City, with the transfer still to be negotiated between them.
