Rodri enjoyed another impressive campaign despite continuing his recovery from the serious ACL injury he suffered in late 2024.
Manchester City carefully managed his minutes throughout the 2025-26 season, but he still made 33 appearances across all competitions.
The Spain international then reminded the football world of his quality at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
As captain, Rodri controlled games from midfield and finished the tournament with the most touches, completed passes and tackles of any player.
Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final, while Rodri collected the Golden Ball as the competition’s best player.
His performances have made him one of the most sought-after players of the summer.
With only one year remaining on his Manchester City contract, both Real Madrid and Barcelona have pushed to bring him back to La Liga.
Real Madrid were initially considered favourites after opening discussions with the midfielder’s camp.
However, negotiations stalled over personal terms and the transfer fee, with City valuing Rodri at around €75 million while Madrid looked for a lower figure. That delay allowed Barcelona to enter the race.
According to Matteo Moretto, Rodri has now reached a full agreement on personal terms with Barcelona after growing tired of waiting for Real Madrid to make a decisive move.
The report adds that Barcelona have also presented guarantees over negotiations with Manchester City and could make official contact with the Premier League club in the coming hours.
Although personal terms are now in place, the transfer is not yet complete. Barcelona must still negotiate an agreement with Manchester City.
Cansado de esperar a que el Real Madrid dé un paso decisivo ante el Manchester City, Rodri ha alcanzado un acuerdo económico con el Barça, club que también le ha ofrecido garantías respecto a las negociaciones con la entidad inglesa.
En las próximas horas el Barça se pondrá en… pic.twitter.com/atm0Pr7Oma
— Matteo Moretto (@MatteMoretto) August 6, 2026
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