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Rodri rejected Real Madrid and chose Barcelona: how the decision

According to SPORT, Rodri decided to prefer Barcelona to Real Madrid and made his choice during the World Cup after surveying the Blaugrana locker room. There is no agreement between clubs.

9 August 2026
Rodri rejected Real Madrid and chose Barcelona: how the decision

Rodri rejected Real Madrid and chose Barcelona: how the decision was made

According to News.

Why this matters

Rodri's decision to reject Real Madrid in favor of Barcelona could have a significant impact on the transfer market, especially considering his importance as a midfielder at Manchester City. The interest from Barcelona, ​​a La Liga club, demonstrates its ambition to reinforce the squad with quality players, which could influence the league's dynamics and competitiveness next season.

Main conclusions

  • Rodri rejected Real Madrid and chose Barcelona: how the decision.
  • According to SPORT, Rodri decided to prefer Barcelona to Real Madrid and made his choice during the World Cup after surveying the Blaugrana locker room.
  • Report – How Rodri’s move to Barcelona took shape during the World Cup - Yahoo Sports.

Rodri reportedly rejected Real Madrid to commit to Barcelona, ​​a decision that has been matured over the last few weeks and that took shape during the last World Cup. The information is provided by the Catalan daily SPORT, according to which the Manchester City midfielder sees Hansi Flick's project as the best platform for the next step in his career.

According to the same source, the choice of the Spanish international is not the result of a last-minute disagreement or unresolved contractual details. On the contrary, the process was thoughtful and discreet. Although there were indications that personal terms with Real Madrid were well underway, Rodri changed course after gathering impressions from several Barcelona players with whom he shared a dressing room during the World Cup.

These conversations, kept confidential, would have sought to understand the day-to-day functioning of the squad, the dynamics of the locker room and the way the coaching staff works. One of the points that interested the midfielder most was his integration into a young group, with a strong emphasis on training, and the way he would be received in this competitive context. The scenario pleased him and left a mark on the decision-making process, says SPORT.

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On a physical level, the player dispelled recent apprehensions by producing convincing performances in the final phase of the national team tournament, reinforcing the idea that he is fully recovered and ready to embrace a new challenge at the highest level.

With an understanding already reached between the player and Barcelona, ​​the Catalans now need to agree on the details for the transfer with Manchester City. The midfielder, with an established status at City and the Spanish national team, is preparing a return to La Liga, the championship where he played before going to England.

If the deal goes ahead, Barcelona will reinforce the center of the field with an element of great tactical influence and the ability to control the rhythm of the game, at a time when Hansi Flick is looking to fine-tune the squad to compete at the highest level, internally and externally. For Real Madrid, the decision represents a setback in a market option considered a priority, following reports that indicated an agreement in principle with the player.

With no agreement reached between clubs, the ball is now in the court of Barcelona and Manchester City to transform the understanding with Rodri into a completed deal.

What happens next

Now, attention turns to negotiations between Barcelona and Manchester City, as an agreement between the clubs is still missing. If Barcelona manage to secure Rodri, it will be a great boost to their project under the guidance of Hansi Flick, especially with regards to developing young talent and building a competitive squad for the future.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the player involved in the transfer?

The player involved in the transfer is Rodri.

Where did Rodri come from before joining Barcelona?

Rodri joins from Manchester City.

Why did Rodri choose Barcelona over Real Madrid?

Rodri chose Barcelona because he considered Hansi Flick's project as the best platform for the next step in his career.

What is the status of the agreement between Rodri and Barcelona?

An understanding has already been reached between Rodri and Barcelona, but the agreement still needs to be made official.

What will be Rodri's role at Barcelona?

Rodri should be part of a young and competitive group, with a strong emphasis on training.

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