Real Fail to Convince Rodri. Barça See Their Chance
Until recently, Rodri reportedly had eyes only for Real Madrid, leaving Barcelona to watch from a safe distance. It took just one unconvincing contract offer from Los Blancos for Barça to discover that the Ballon d’Or winner had apparently always been a perfect fit for their project.
According to The Athletic, Barcelona have opened talks with the 30-year-old’s representatives. Sport claims Rodri was prepared to sign a four-year contract with Madrid but was not satisfied with the terms offered. Mundo Deportivo is more cautious: Barça will only make a serious move if the midfielder clearly chooses them over Real. The club refuse to be anyone’s second choice. A declaration of love must apparently arrive before an actual proposal.
Rodri’s Manchester City contract expires in 2027 and a transfer could cost between €60 million and €65 million. Barcelona would need to sell first, especially as signing a striker remains their official priority. Still, this is the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner and the best player at both Euro 2024 and the 2026 World Cup. Space can always be found in the plan, particularly when Real Madrid suddenly start struggling.
Barça therefore have a striker they cannot take from Atlético and a midfielder they did not need until his move to Madrid ran into trouble. Everything is under control. The priorities are simply changing a little faster than the headlines.
