Barcelona Reach €76.5m Agreement in Principle for World Cup-Winning Midfielder

Barcelona have reached an agreement in principle worth €76.5million (£65.3m; $87.8m) with Manchester City for the transfer of midfielder Rodri, a player who is currently on top of the world.

City will receive an upfront fee of €60million (£51.2m; $68.8m) for the central midfielder, with more than €11m of the add-ons viewed as achievable. The Premier League side expects to receive at least €71.5m for a player who has less than 12 months of his contract remaining. According to Fabrizio Romano, the transfer was agreed following Barcelona's latest bid, which exceeded €70 million in total.

Personal terms are not expected to be an issue for the Spain international, with a four-year contract proposed by the La Liga champions. Barcelona made an initial offer of around €45million plus add-ons on August 7, but had been made aware that City would want close to €80m to sanction his exit. Real Madrid had also been exploring a move for the Spain captain this summer, but the 30-year-old preferred a move to Camp Nou over any other club.

Rodri has entered the final 12 months of his City contract and has not shown a willingness to extend his terms. Barcelona are hoping the transfer can be completed in time for Rodri to be introduced to fans at the Gamper Trophy on Wednesday.

A Player Who Has Won It All

The 30-year-old captained Spain to win this year's World Cup, where he received the Golden Ball having been voted the tournament's best player. His performance in the 1-0 win over defending champion Argentina in the final was among the best of his career — nipping in to intercept dangerous passes, providing passing options to team-mates in trouble, and surging forward to set up attacks.

Rodri's incredible display at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey was a reminder of the talents that led to him winning the 2024 Ballon d'Or. 'We've always said that Rodri is the best player in the world,' Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente said after the final.

Rodri added the World Cup to a list of honours that already boasted the 2024 European Championship title with Spain, the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League, four Premier League titles, and five domestic cups in England. He has made 298 appearances for City, providing 28 goals and 32 assists since moving from Atletico Madrid in 2019 for a £62.6million release clause.

Overcoming Adversity

Rodri's journey has not been without setbacks. He was released by his first club, Atletico Madrid, at age 16 due to concerns he was too small to make it as a professional — ironic now he stands about 190cm (6ft 3in). He thrived at Villarreal, where he was still studying for a degree in accounting and economics, living in university residential areas and driving a battered Opel Corsa to training.

A £62.6million move to City followed a single season back at Atletico, where there were tensions with Argentine coach Diego Simeone. 'When I was at Villarreal, I was very good with the ball at my feet, but I was still a bit soft,' Rodri later told The Players' Tribune. 'Under Simeone, I learned what it means to be the bad guy. To be a bit of a b*****d on the pitch.'

More recently, fitness problems — including an ACL tear that kept him out for eight months — hampered him through the past two seasons. City did not win the Premier League in either of those years, after doing so in each of the four previous campaigns with the Spaniard central to their team. But Rodri returned to form at this summer's World Cup, showing an uncanny ability to make maximum impact when most needed.

'For me, it's been a very tough time,' Rodri said during Spain's World Cup-winning celebrations. 'I said to the lads before the game, "We need to face them, look into their eyes". We were brave, and I was brave in that moment when I was down. I want to thank all the people that helped me. But I want to thank myself, to be honest, in those moments.'

Reunion with Spain Team-Mates

A move to Barcelona would see the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner join up with seven members of Spain's 2026 World Cup-winning squad: Joan Garcia, Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Pedri, and Lamine Yamal. Hansi Flick's side will be without fellow midfielder Frenkie de Jong for a lengthy spell due to a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee, making Rodri's arrival all the more timely.