Rodri finalizes Etihad exit, as Barca deal agreed

Rodri, Spain's World Cup-winning captain, appears to be heading back home after Manchester City and Barcelona finally reached an agreement over the midfielder's transfer.

The clubs have agreed to a deal for Rodri worth 76.5 million euros ($88.5 million), a person with knowledge of the transaction confirmed to reporters on Sunday.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the details of the deal have not been made public.

Neither City nor Barcelona have made any official comment about the transfer.

The 30-year-old has played for City since joining from Atletico Madrid in 2019. He scored the winning goal in City's Champions League final victory over Inter Milan in 2023 and won the Ballon d'Or as the world's best player the following year after helping Spain win the European Championship title.

He was an integral member of the Spanish side that won the World Cup last month and he won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player.

Rodri had a year left on his contract with City, and the club rejected two previous bids from Barca.

His departure from the Etihad will further weaken City's midfield, with Bernardo Silva having also left to join Real Madrid this summer.

Rodri did not play Sunday in City's 3-0 Community Shield defeat to Arsenal. He is currently recovering from minor back surgery that he underwent after the World Cup.

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