Barcelona close in on Rodri deal with City agreement

Barcelona are reportedly on the brink of completing one of the standout transfers of the summer, with Sport claiming the club have reached an agreement with Manchester City for Rodri.

Agreement reported as Barcelona move nears

According to the report, the Spain international is expected to sign a contract running until 2030. The deal has not yet been formally confirmed, but the expectation is that both clubs will do so in the coming days.

Rodri's absence from Manchester City's squad for the Community Shield meeting with Arsenal has only added to the sense that the move is nearing completion. Sport describes the midfielder's arrival as a major statement by the Catalan club as they look to strengthen a key area of the team.

Flick's role in the transfer

Sport says Hansi Flick played a decisive part in convincing Rodri to join Barcelona. The midfielder is viewed as a central figure for the German coach's project and as a potential leader in the middle of the pitch.

That emphasis on midfield reinforcement is understandable in the context of Barcelona's recent issues in that department. The source points to those problems being exposed in the Champions League quarter-final defeat to Atletico, increasing the urgency around adding a player of Rodri's profile.

Financial details and squad impact

Sport reports that the agreed fee is 60 million plus variables, while The Athletic says those add-ons amount to 16.5 million. The report adds that the final package is higher than what sporting director Deco had initially hoped to achieve in negotiations.

Even so, Barcelona's hierarchy are said to have concluded that this was the right moment to pursue a player capable of raising both the team's level and the internal competition within the squad. Rodri is presented as the kind of signing who could immediately reshape the balance of the midfield.

What it could mean for De Jong and Barcelona's season

Sport also suggests Rodri's arrival would leave Frenkie de Jong in a more complicated position. The report says the Dutch midfielder suffered a serious injury after pushing himself to play at the World Cup and that his standing could be affected by the time he returns in the coming months. It also notes dissatisfaction within the club over how that injury situation was handled.

For Barcelona, the broader picture is clear. Rodri is being framed not simply as a high-profile addition, but as a player who could help sustain domestic dominance and strengthen the club's push at continental level.

Before the new campaign begins, Flick's side still have a friendly against Al Ahly to come. Barcelona then open their season on 23 August with an away game against Elche.