Rodri lands in Barcelona to complete 'dream' move

What the report says

Barcelona have agreed a deal to sign Spain midfielder Rodri from Manchester City, with the move described by the player as a lifelong ambition. According to the source material, the La Liga champions will pay about £65 million and Rodri is expected to sign a four-year contract. The 30-year-old arrived in Barcelona on Monday to complete the transfer.

At the airport, Rodri said he was pleased the negotiations were finished and called joining Barcelona a dream. He also said he was looking forward to meeting new teammates, including several he already knows from Spain’s national team, and expressed a desire to help the club compete for major honours, including the Champions League.

Rodri leaves City after seven seasons and 298 appearances, having won 12 major trophies with the English club. Those honours included four Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2022-23. The article says he joined City from Atletico Madrid in 2019 for a then club-record fee of £62.8 million.

The report also notes that Rodri’s recent seasons were affected by injury, including a serious knee problem and a hamstring issue. It adds that Barcelona had initially had a lower offer rejected before increasing their pursuit, while Real Madrid had previously been viewed as a possible destination.