Rodri is already a Barça player: 75 million between fixed and add-ons

FC Barcelona

The Barça is on the verge of closing one of the biggest moves of the summer. Rodri Hernández will play for FC Barcelona after the initial agreement reached with the Manchester City for his transfer. The deal still needs to complete the paperwork, but all parties are working with the expectation of making it official in the coming days.

The move changes the landscape in the blue-and-garnet midfield and responds to a specific request from Hansi Flick: to bring leadership, authority and personality to face a season in which the team wants to take a step forward in Europe.

Flick wanted a leader and Deco found the best one

The arrival of the midfielder was not among the initial priorities for the sporting department. The Barça had other positions still to strengthen, but the chance to sign a player of this level ended up changing the plans.

Rodri also fits one of the demands Flick made after elimination by Atlético de Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinals. The German coach wanted players able to take responsibility in difficult moments.

At 30 years old, he arrives after a period of maximum demand in England and with an even higher international status following the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, where he was chosen tournament MVP. His experience, ability to organize the game and tactical reading give Barça a profile it did not have in its squad.

Deco, meanwhile, has also managed to get ahead of Real Madrid.

The Real Madrid had him on its radar and Rodri had been appearing in the plans of the white side for some time. His contract with the Manchester City runs until 2027 and the situation could favor Madrid, who were looking for a midfielder capable of taking on the role of the organizing pivot, which, at this moment, they still do not have.

The City had two options: keep Rodri until the end of his contract or negotiate now to avoid losing him for free next summer.

The English club started with a high valuation. At the Etihad they were looking at a figure close to 70-80 million euros in an ideal scenario, while the initial Barça offer was well below that.

Rodri could become the balancing point of Flick's Barça. His arrival also changes the pecking order , and the player who can feel it most is Frenkie de Jong.

Frenkie de Jong

The Dutchman is going through a difficult spell after forcing himself to play the World Cup with his national team and then suffering a serious injury that will keep him out for several months. His recovery will be a priority, but the situation he will find upon his return will be different.

De Jong had been an important piece in the blue-and-garnet midfield, but the bet on Rodri could significantly reduce his room for maneuver.

Also, inside the club, the handling of De Jong's injury did not sit well and neither did his decision to play the World Cup. That context adds even more interest to a battle that could become one of the big stories in the blue-and-garnet midfield during the season.

A signing that also affects Fantasy

From a Fantasy standpoint, the move deserves attention from day one. Rodri arrives in a team with a lot of possession, a very defined attacking structure, and a coach who can give him a central role in build-up. His profile could particularly benefit the points related to involvement in the game, recoveries, passes and consistency.

At the moment, Marc Bernal will be the most affected. Now, he will get his chance in the first league match, but a door that was open with De Jong's injury is closing, as he had hoped to take advantage of it. We will have to see, how minutes are managed across the different competitions, and perhaps Rodri will be more of a starter in the Champions League while Bernal gets plenty of league minutes. We will have to wait to see how the appearances are handled. 

In any case, his arrival automatically increases his appeal on any fantasy platform.

A player of his caliber, a regular starter in a Barça that wants to dominate many matches, and with a potentially leading role, starts with a clear advantage over other midfielders in the competition.

The Gamper could be his presentation

Rodri returned a few days ago to training with the Manchester City after his vacation, but his future was already practically decided. If the document exchange is completed without problems, the player could join Barça during the next week. There is even a possibility that he will be presented to his new fans at the Gamper.