Rodri’s future has taken an unexpected turn, with the Spain midfielder now edging closer to a move to Barcelona after taking advice from Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, according to Spanish journalist Melchor Ruiz.
Speaking on the Spanish radio programme El Larguero on COPE, Ruiz said Rodri consulted Guardiola this season about what he should do if faced with a choice between Barcelona and Real Madrid. Guardiola reportedly told him that Barcelona’s style of play would suit him best, while making clear that the final decision had to belong to the player.
That guidance is understood to have played a decisive role in Rodri’s thinking. The midfielder, a World Cup and European Championship winner, reportedly believes Barcelona’s footballing philosophy is much closer to the style he experienced during his years working under Guardiola at Manchester City than the approach associated with Real Madrid.
Contact from Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is also said to have strengthened Rodri’s preference for the Catalan club. Ruiz added that the player sees Barcelona’s sporting project as the more natural fit for his career, rather than allowing financial considerations to determine his next move.
A further attraction is the prospect of joining a dressing room containing several familiar international team-mates. Rodri is expected to feel comfortable alongside players including Pedri and Dani Olmo, with the environment potentially resembling the Spain set-up he already knows.
That sense of familiarity has helped Barcelona establish an advantage in the race for the midfielder, despite strong interest from Real Madrid.
According to Ruiz, Real Madrid first made contact with Manchester City immediately after the end of the World Cup to ask whether Rodri could be made available. The Spanish club received a positive response before submitting a formal offer, and the negotiations initially developed in a positive manner.
However, Rodri personally informed Real Madrid that he appreciated their proposal but would prefer to accept Barcelona’s offer, even before talks between the clubs had advanced. Real Madrid subsequently accepted the player’s decision in a sporting manner.
The proposed transfer is not yet complete. Barcelona and Manchester City still have to reach an agreement over the financial terms, with the Premier League club seeking about 70m euros for Rodri. Ruiz said that figure is the same amount Manchester City quoted to Real Madrid during their discussions.
Persuading Manchester City to sanction the deal is therefore considered the final step before one of the most significant transfers of the market can be completed. While Rodri’s preference is reportedly clear, the move remains dependent on Barcelona reaching an agreement with his current club.
