Barcelona join race for Rodri after De Jong injury blow

Barcelona have entered the race to sign Rodri after Frenkie de Jong suffered a serious injury, according to reports cited from RMC Sport. The Spanish champions are looking to reinforce midfield ahead of the new season, with De Jong facing a lengthy spell out.

De Jong setback forces rethink

The immediate trigger for Barcelona's interest appears to be De Jong's condition. The Netherlands international has suffered a tear of the medial collateral ligament in his right knee and could be unavailable for as long as six months.

That diagnosis has left Barcelona assessing their options in central midfield. With Hansi Flick preparing his side for another title defence in Spain, the club are understood to have moved quickly to explore a high-level replacement.

Contact made over Rodri

According to Fabrice Hawkins of RMC Sport, Barcelona have already made contact with Rodri's agents. The Manchester City midfielder has now emerged as a major target as the club look for both quality and authority in the middle of the pitch.

Rodri's profile makes the link an eye-catching one. The source material describes him as the standout player of the most recent World Cup, and Barcelona's interest underlines the scale of the challenge created by De Jong's absence.

Competition from Europe’s elite

Any attempt to bring Rodri to Barcelona would be complicated. Paris Saint-Germain are also reported to be considering a move, while Real Madrid are said to be in a strong position in the race for the Spain international.

The same reports suggest Rodri would prefer a move to Real Madrid and has already reached an agreement over contract terms with the club. If that proves accurate, Barcelona may find themselves trying to disrupt a deal that is already moving in another direction.

Manchester City’s stance remains key

Even if interest from Barcelona is genuine, Manchester City's position could be decisive. Rodri is under contract until 30 June 2027, and the source indicates City do not want to sell him.

In fact, the Premier League club are reportedly prepared to keep him through the remainder of his deal rather than let him leave now, even if that eventually means losing him for nothing. That underlines how highly he is valued and why any move this summer would be difficult to complete.

A proven winner in demand

Rodri joined Manchester City in 2019 and has built a formidable honours list during his time at the club. The source credits him with winning the Champions League, four English league titles, two domestic cups, three domestic super cups and the UEFA Super Cup, as well as the Ballon d'Or.

Barcelona's interest therefore makes obvious football sense, particularly after losing De Jong for a significant period. But admiration and availability are not the same thing. For now, Barcelona have made their move by opening talks with the player's camp; whether that leads anywhere will depend on Rodri's preference and, above all, Manchester City's willingness to engage.