Countdown to Ballon d'Or Winner's Camp Nou Arrival! Barcelona and Man City Finalize €76.5M Blockbuster Deal, Rodri Set to Be Unveiled

According to multiple well-informed sources, Barcelona has reached a preliminary agreement with Manchester City midfielder Rodri over a transfer. Previously, Barcelona had twice attempted to sign Rodri but were rejected by City. However, the La Liga champions submitted a third bid over the weekend, with the total amount reaching €76.5 million (equivalent to £65.3 million). On Sunday local time, sources confirmed to the media that the two clubs have officially finalized the deal, and they are now signing relevant documents to complete the final steps.

The 30-year-old Rodri is expected to fly to Barcelona in the coming days and could be officially unveiled before the Joan Gamper Trophy match against Al Ahly at the Spotify Camp Nou on Wednesday (local time). This signing comes shortly after sources informed the media that full-back Joao Cancelo will also return to Barcelona on a free transfer. Cancelo and Rodri will become Barcelona's fourth and fifth signings of the summer, following Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi, and Jessie Bisuwe.

The club is still searching for a forward, and with the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez has become the top target. Rodri was not initially a priority at the start of the summer window, but when he entered the transfer market after winning the World Cup with Spain, Barcelona quickly seized the opportunity. Frenkie de Jong's long-term injury also forced Barcelona to strengthen their midfield.

Real Madrid had attempted to sign the former Atletico Madrid player, but sources told the media last week that Rodri prefers to join Barcelona. After agreeing on personal terms with Barcelona, the Catalan club accelerated negotiations with Manchester City. With Rodri's contract having only one year left, City was willing to let him go for the right price. Internally, Barcelona views Rodri as a landmark signing, believing he can help Hansi Flick's team, the La Liga champions, achieve breakthroughs in the coming seasons.

Rodri previously played for Villarreal and Atletico Madrid before joining Manchester City in 2019, where he has since won almost every club and individual honor. In addition to winning four Premier League titles and one Champions League trophy with City, he also won the European Championship and the World Cup with the Spanish national team, being named the Best Player of both tournaments. His success at the European Championship earned him the Ballon d'Or in 2024.