Barcelona Agree €76.5m Deal for Rodri
Barcelona have reached an agreement in principle to sign Manchester City midfielder Rodri, with the two clubs exchanging paperwork to finalize a deal reported to be worth roughly €76.5 million, according to rg.org. The 30-year-old is expected to arrive in Barcelona in the coming days and could be presented before Wednesday's Joan Gamper Trophy match against Al Ahly at Spotify Camp Nou.
The report says Barcelona had two earlier offers turned down before returning with a third bid over the weekend that City accepted. Rodri had one year remaining on his contract at the Etihad Stadium, and City were reportedly prepared to sanction a sale at the right price. Real Madrid had also pursued the Spain captain, but sources say he preferred a move to Barcelona once talks advanced.
A Busy Summer Rebuild
Rodri's arrival comes alongside a broader overhaul at Camp Nou. Fullback Joao Cancelo is also poised to rejoin the club as a free agent, with the pair set to become Barcelona's fourth and fifth signings of the summer, following the additions of Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi and Jesse Bisiwu, as reported by rg.org. A long-term injury to Frenkie de Jong pushed the club to explore the midfield market, while Rodri was reportedly not an initial priority until he became available after winning the World Cup with Spain.
Barcelona are also still searching for a striker, with Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez the top target following the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, who has since agreed to join Paris Saint-Germain.
A Decorated Career Heading to Catalonia
Rodri came through the ranks at Villarreal before a spell at Atletico Madrid, then joined City in 2019 for a then-club-record €70 million, a fee triggered by a release clause. Since then, he has won four Premier League titles, the Champions League, FA Cup, and EFL Cup with City, according to rg.org. He missed much of the 2024-25 season with a knee injury and dealt with a hamstring issue last season.
Rodri won the World Cup with Spain this summer and was named player of the tournament. He previously earned the same honour at the European Championship and won the Ballon d'Or in 2024.
Barcelona enter the 2026-27 campaign as reigning champions, having finished eight points clear of Real Madrid last season. Sportsbooks have installed Barcelona as favourites for the La Liga title, with odds in the 4/5-to-8/11 range, while Real Madrid under Jose Mourinho sit close behind at around even money and Atletico Madrid trail at roughly 14/1, according to rg.org.
De Jong's Future in Question
The Daily Express reports that Manchester United have a golden opportunity to finally sign Frenkie de Jong after missing out on the midfielder's signature on multiple occasions. The consensus among Dutch media in recent days is that the Netherlands international no longer has a long-term future at Barcelona and could move on next year.
The La Liga winners announced the signing of former Ballon d'Or winner Rodri earlier this week, according to the Daily Express. The Spaniard, who won the World Cup this summer, plays in De Jong's position at the base of the midfield and is widely regarded as the best player in the world in his role. As such, Rodri's arrival has been taken as an ominous sign regarding De Jong's Barca future back in his native Netherlands. Several outlets believe the former Manchester City star is there to take De Jong's place rather than play alongside him, with De Telegraaf claiming Rodri is "a class above" on their podcast.
De Jong is currently out of action with an injury, so Barca are not actively trying to sell him right now, though reports suggest he will not see out the entirety of his contract, which expires in 2029. Dutch reporters via Spanish publication Sport expect it to be his final season at the Camp Nou, with the player reportedly angry that he has been stripped of his Blaugrana captaincy during his injury, due to uncertainty over whether he will get the armband back after his return.
Barcelona have looked to sell De Jong in the past, but the player has always insisted he wants to stay.
United's Long Pursuit
The Daily Express recounts United's long-standing interest in De Jong. During Erik ten Hag's time as United manager, he was regularly linked with the Red Devils. United's then director of football John Murtough flew out to negotiate with Barcelona that summer. De Jong was hesitant to join United due to lack of Champions League football and love for Barcelona. De Jong had deferred wages during the pandemic, and leaving would mean forfeiting outstanding salary.
Having failed in their pursuit, United completed the surprise £60m capture of Casemiro from Real Madrid. United had fallen short of signing De Jong during his time at Ajax while Jose Mourinho was in charge. Mourinho admired De Jong since observing him in the 2017 Europa League final. In 2018, United's head of youth recruitment Derek Langley urged the board to sign him, but Ed Woodward and the hierarchy failed to act decisively.
United are now led by head coach Michael Carrick and director of football Jason Wilcox, according to the Daily Express. Uncertainty around Bruno Fernandes' future could open the door for a De Jong signing, the report suggests.