Rodri slows down Barça’s plans: his signing becomes more difficult

The Catalan club have reportedly made a direct approach to Manchester City, but Rodri’s potential transfer is shaping up to be one of the toughest deals of the summer.

FC Barcelona continue exploring options to strengthen their midfield, and Rodri remains one of the sporting department’s favorite targets. According to recent reports, the club have already made an initial move to assess whether one of the market’s most ambitious transfers could become possible. Even so, the operation remains extremely complicated.

The difficulty goes far beyond the financial aspect of the deal. The player’s own preference could ultimately become the biggest obstacle for Barça. That has added another layer of uncertainty to an already complex situation.

Barça contacted Manchester City directly

According to Xavi Campos, FC Barcelona did not approach Rodri’s representatives first. Instead, the club reportedly contacted Manchester City directly to explore the possibility of signing the Spanish midfielder. The move highlights the genuine interest from Deco and the sporting department.

At this stage, however, there are no reports of advanced negotiations or a formal agreement. The contact was simply an initial step to evaluate whether a future deal could be feasible. The operation remains in its earliest stages.

Rodri’s preference could complicate the deal

The same reports suggest that Rodri would prefer to play for Real Madrid rather than Barça. That perception is reportedly linked to his personal ties, as both the player and his family are from Madrid. If true, it would make any move to the Catalan club even more difficult.

However, Rodri has not publicly confirmed that preference. As a result, the reports should be treated with caution until there is an official statement from the player. For now, the speculation continues.

One of the toughest operations on the market

FC Barcelona remain alert to every opportunity to strengthen Hansi Flick’s squad before the transfer window closes. Even so, signing Rodri appears to be one of the most difficult operations due to sporting, financial, and personal factors. The club understand the scale of the challenge.

The twist is clear: Barça have already made the first move, but Rodri’s reported preference could become the biggest barrier to completing one of the club’s dream signings.

Caution note: At the time of writing, there is no official agreement involving FC Barcelona, Manchester City, or Rodri, and the player’s reported preference has not been publicly confirmed.

Francisco Calderón