Barcelona explores Rodri deal as Real Madrid talks stall

By Charlie Bradshaw — 6 August 2026 — 4 min read

Barcelona’s Interest in Rodri

Barcelona is reportedly considering a move for Manchester City midfielder Rodri, potentially challenging Real Madrid’s efforts to sign him. Rodri is in the final year of his contract with Manchester City, who are thought to be open to his departure for approximately £60m. Despite ongoing discussions between Real Madrid and Rodri’s representatives, an agreement has not yet been reached, which Barcelona hopes to leverage.

Barcelona’s interest in the 30-year-old midfielder follows a knee injury sustained by their midfielder Frenkie de Jong, which is expected to sideline him for several months. Rodri, who won the Golden Ball, is understood to favour a move to Barcelona over other clubs this summer, according to sources close to the negotiations. His preference is reportedly influenced by the club’s footballing style and the prospect of reuniting with several members of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad at Barcelona.

Rodri played a significant role in Spain’s 2026 World Cup victory. He joined Manchester City from Atlético Madrid in 2019 and has since accumulated 298 appearances for the club, scoring 28 goals and providing 32 assists. His honours with City include four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three League Cups, and the Champions League in 2023, where he scored the winning goal in the final.

Financial Considerations and Player Departures

Real Madrid, who have agreed to a club-record fee of £115m for RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande, are also in negotiations with Vinícius Júnior regarding a contract extension. To facilitate a potential move for Rodri, Real Madrid may need to offload players, with Aurélien Tchouaméni and Eduardo Camavinga identified as possible departures. Manchester United has been linked with the France midfielders.

For Barcelona, acquiring Rodri would necessitate selling players to create financial flexibility and space within their salary limit. The club’s financial position is expected to improve with their return to Camp Nou and the additional income generated, alongside the departure of high-earning players like Robert Lewandowski. However, future redevelopment work at Camp Nou, which will require the team to play elsewhere temporarily, could impact the club’s budget for the 2027-2028 season.

Rodri recently underwent minor back surgery and is expected to miss most of Manchester City’s pre-season programme. Manchester City has signed Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116m and is in discussions with Lille for 18-year-old Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.

Barcelona’s Striker Search and Ferran Torres’s Future

Following Robert Lewandowski’s departure, Barcelona has been actively seeking a new striker. They have pursued Julián Alvarez from Atlético Madrid throughout the summer, but Atlético continues to maintain that the Argentina striker is not for sale. Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, met with Alvarez’s representatives in the Spanish capital recently.

Ferran Torres, who scored the winning goal for Spain in the World Cup final against Argentina, is also in the final year of his contract at Barcelona. He has expressed his desire for the club to initiate talks regarding an extension. Torres stated that he expects to be in training for Barcelona on 12 August.

Barcelona has also brought in wingers Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United and Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund this summer. Rodri’s potential move to Barcelona is seen by some as a strong tactical fit, given the club’s established playing style under Hansi Flick, which is considered similar to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

Rodri’s natural ability as a passer and his defensive positioning could seamlessly integrate into Flick’s midfield, allowing full-backs to push high and midfield partners to advance. His role would involve dropping between centre-backs, distributing passes, and making runs into attacking spaces, mirroring his contributions in the Premier League.

While Real Madrid also aims to control possession, their recent tactical approach has incorporated more quick counter-attacking. If Rodri were to join Real Madrid, he might be tasked with covering extensive distances defensively, a role that has sometimes challenged players like Aurélien Tchouaméni. The structure at Barcelona, however, is perceived to offer more protection for a central midfielder like Rodri.

Rodri previously indicated a desire to return to his home country and play in La Liga again during his career, although he also acknowledged the appeal of representing Real Madrid.

Source: theguardian.com