Rodri has been officially unveiled as Barcelona’s marquee summer signing, confirming he chose the Catalan giants over several other suitors after completing his departure from Manchester City on a four-year contract.

The Spain international midfielder revealed that despite interest from other top clubs, including arch-rivals Real Madrid, moving to the Camp Nou was always his priority once he decided the time was right to end his highly successful stint in England.

“I’d like to say that I’m very happy to be here. It’s a very special day, a very important new chapter in my career,” Rodri said at his presentation. “It was a tough decision. First, because I’m leaving Manchester City, a club that has given me everything and where I’ve been incredibly happy. I’ll be eternally grateful. I’m also grateful that they understood it was a good time to leave. Barcelona is a fantastic club, a global benchmark for its approach to football and the values it represents. I had other options, but Barcelona was my first choice, and I made that clear to Laporta.”

Fitness Boost and Imminent Debut

There had been questions surrounding the 30-year-old’s immediate availability after he underwent back surgery following Spain’s World Cup triumph, but Rodri was quick to alleviate any fitness concerns, insisting he is ready to get straight to work under manager Hansi Flick.

“I’m ready to play now. The operation was nothing serious, it was an outpatient procedure,” he explained. “I hope to be able to train normally tomorrow. Whatever the manager deems appropriate. I just need to finalize the transfer and get under Hansi’s orders as soon as possible.”

Barcelona host Al Ahly in the Joan Gamper Trophy on Wednesday in their final pre-season fixture before beginning their La Liga title defence away to Elche on Sunday.

Working with Hansi Flick, Mentoring Marc Bernal, and Sergio Busquets Comparisons

Rodri expressed deep admiration for Flick's tactical setup and believes he can continue to evolve under the German tactician.

“I spoke with Hansi. He conveyed his enthusiasm to me. I’m very motivated to train with him; he has a very bold style of play, which appeals to me a lot. I still have room for improvement, and he can help me develop further,” Rodri stated. “He’s a transparent coach; he tells you what he expects from you. He brings the experience the team needs. I want to inspire my teammates and contribute.”

Rodri also highlighted his desire to mentor rising midfield talent Marc Bernal, while addressing long-standing comparisons to club legend Sergio Busquets, who is now serving as an assistant coach with Barca Atletic.

“I’m a 30-year-old player with experience that many players on this team don’t have. I’m here to contribute, to share my knowledge with my teammates,” he said of Bernal. “Marc has shown spectacular progress; he’s made an incredible recovery from his injury. I hope to help him as much as I can and teach him what I think is important. He’ll be able to grow alongside me, and that’s what matters.”

On Busquets, Rodri added: “He’s been a great role model. I understand the comparison because of our position and style. It’s a privilege. We have different characteristics and things in common. I’ve always admired him and tried to learn from him. Now he’s with the reserve team, so I’ll see him a bit more. A great friend, teammate, and role model.”