When Real Madrid’s concerns over Barcelona's moves for Rodri first surfaced, club executives asked the team’s players and other individuals with a connection to the midfielder to reach him and make sure he was still convinced by their offer to join.
Madrid believe they made a good proposal to Rodri, on both the football and finance sides. It is also true that, before the World Cup, Madrid were not considering signing him.
Sources close to the situation say Rodri’s decision to switch his preference from Real Madrid to Barcelona was primarily due to how they play, anticipating a style that better suits his game and is similar to what he has been used to at Manchester City and with Spain.
While Madrid sources respected his decision, his performances for Spain were an eye-opening example of how dominant he still can be in a position Madrid have struggled to cover since the departures of Toni Kroos in 2024 and Luka Modric in 2025.
At Barcelona, Rodri’s signing is seen as a unique opportunity to significantly improve their squad.
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