Rodri Joins Barcelona in €75m Deal

Spain's captain Rodri has completed his move from Manchester City to Barcelona, a transfer widely considered the signing of the summer. The 30-year-old midfielder arrived in Barcelona on Monday to sign his contract, with the two clubs having reached an agreement on a fee of around €75 million (US$87 million; RM352.6 million), as reported by the Catalan press and confirmed by a source within Barcelona.

Rodri was presented at Barcelona on Tuesday, the same day Real Madrid manager José Mourinho was officially presented by his club in an unusual ceremony closed to the media and fans. Speaking to journalists at the airport upon his arrival in Barcelona, Rodri said, "Playing for Barcelona is a dream," and added that he could not wait to be with his teammates, many of whom he knows from Spain's national team. He said his aims with the club are "the Champions League and whatever else comes our way."

The move brings Rodri back to La Liga after seven years at Manchester City, during which he won the 2024 Ballon d'Or and helped Spain capture their second World Cup earlier this year. He had also played for Atletico Madrid and Villarreal before moving to England. Rodri, however, has struggled with injuries over the past two seasons, and has a minor back procedure after the World Cup, according to some reports, which means he won't feature in Barcelona's season debut against Elche.

Madrid's Pursuit and Mourinho's Response

Real Madrid had been most closely linked with bringing Rodri back to La Liga throughout the spring and early summer. Madrid manager José Mourinho, in his second stint at the club, confirmed that the club made Rodri "a very good offer" and spoke to him a couple of times regarding a switch.

"He is an extraordinary player and he behaved in the right way with us," Mourinho told the TV show El Chiringuito. "I have nothing bad to say. But Real Madrid are so big that you can't have players who have to think twice." Mourinho claimed Rodri's doubts about the move created doubts for Madrid, saying, "His doubts created doubts in me." He insisted that Madrid's stature means the club cannot sign players who hesitate: "You get in touch with a player and the player says: 'When do I go?' That's how it works."

Mourinho, who was hired in June and took over in July, downplayed Rodri's importance to his squad. "I don't need Rodri, we have solutions, quality players," he said, adding, "Victories are won on the field; they are won with titles." He also said he would not miss Rodri, and when asked whether the move could be seen as a victory for Barcelona over their rivals, he replied, "Victories are on the pitch, trophies."

Real Madrid did not sign a similar midfielder despite their pursuit of Rodri, which highlighted a clear weakness in a team that has failed to win a major trophy in the past two seasons. However, Mourinho shrugged off the need for further reinforcements. "The squad is complete, closed. I am not saying that there will not be any signings because the market is still open, but if you ask me directly whether the squad is complete, for me yes it is," he said. Madrid have already spent big this summer, adding several high-profile players such as Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries, and Bernardo Silva plus wonderkid Yan Diomande, which per the club's spending is north of $200 million.

Courtois's "Pity"

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was asked about Rodri's choice, who was staying at the same hotel as the Madrid squad on the night of their La Liga opener, which saw them beat Espanyol 2-1. "Every player chooses where they want to be," Courtois said. "If he didn't want to be with us then it's a pity for him. In the end, he's a great player, but he made his decision and that's it." He downplayed the significance of Rodri's hotel stay by explaining, "It's big [the hotel], there's many people there."

Courtois's comments highlight the rivalry between the clubs, but Rodri insists Barcelona was his choice, telling the press, "I'm very pleased to be here. The whole last days have been intense, but I'm glad everything's sorted."

He had reportedly three offers to leave Manchester City after the World Cup: from Paris Saint-Erg and Real Madrid, but he wanted to return to Spain, so he went for Barcelona, where he will join eight of his World Cup squad teammates.

Perspectives

José Mourinho (Real Madrid manager): Insists his side did not need Rodri and that the player's doubts made Madrid's priority clear. He contradicts the idea of Barcelona getting a major advantage, saying victories are won on the field, and that his current squad is complete.

Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid goalkeeper): Considers Rodri's decision to choose Barcelona rather than Real Madrid "a pity for him", but ultimately respects the player's choice.

Rodri (Barcelona midfielder): Expresses" a "dream" to be at Barcelona and indicates that the move was a the preference all along, with a desire to return to Spain the main motivator.