Rodri Chooses Barcelona Over Real Madrid, Citing Sporting Factors

Rodri has become a key player for FC Barcelona after transferring from Manchester City, moving away from Real Madrid during the 2026 summer transfer market.

Despite initial interest from Real Madrid, including discussions with president Florentino Perez and manager Jose Mourinho, Rodri ultimately decided to join Barcelona, citing the club's sporting project as the main reason for his choice. The transfer was reported to be worth up to 76.5 million euros ($87.8M USD).

Rodri noted that the approach from Barcelona's sporting director Deco was influential, as he felt no pressure during negotiations and appreciated the club's enthusiasm for his potential contributions. He emphasized that his decision was based solely on footballing alignment and was not meant to slight Real Madrid.

Since joining Barcelona, Rodri has quickly established himself as a vital part of the team's midfield, leading in completed long passes and maintaining a high pass completion rate in La Liga.