Barcelona reaches agreement with Manchester City to sign Rodri

Barcelona, the Spanish league champions, have reached an agreement with English club Manchester City to sign Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, according to a source at the Catalan club speaking to AFP.

The 30-year-old midfielder, who was a World Cup winner with the Spanish national team at the recent tournament in North America, is set to move for approximately 75 million euros ($87 million), according to media reports.

A Barcelona source said, “A statement will be issued in the coming days, and the deal will become official.”

Rodri’s name had been linked with a move to Real Madrid after Spain’s World Cup triumph in July, but Barcelona moved decisively to sign the former Atletico Madrid star, who played a pivotal role in City’s successes since joining the club in 2019.

The midfielder suffered injuries over the past two seasons before shining for Spain, which won its second World Cup title in history.

Barcelona are expected to be without Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong for several months due to injury, prompting the club to move for Rodri.

Rodri was a key figure in manager Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City lineup, leading the team to the 2023 Champions League title and four Premier League titles, among a haul of 12 major trophies.

Barcelona had seen two bids for Rodri rejected before finally reaching an agreement with City on Sunday, adding the midfielder to the ranks of Englishman Anthony Gordon, German Karim Adeyemi, and Belgian Jassir Bessyo at Camp Nou this summer.

Barcelona are also expected to complete the signing of Joao Cancelo in the coming days, after the Portuguese international played for the club last season on loan from Saudi club Al Hilal.