MADRID.- The midfielder Rodrielected best player of the World Cup 2026 won in July by Spainsaid “yes” to Barcelona “to open a negotiation with the Manchester City” for his transfer, a source from the Barça club told AFP this Thursday.
Rodri, 30 years old and Ballon d’Or 2024ends his contract with Manchester City next season. In recent days the media have published the interest of real Madrid for signing him.
“We can say that Barça is closer today than yesterday to being able to consider this signing. Does that mean that it will be done? No. There is no guarantee,” the source from the Catalan club told AFP.
“What has changed compared to yesterday, and even compared to this morning, is that we now have the player’s yes to open a negotiation with Manchester City,” he added.
“From here, the operation may or may not go ahead, but that is the novelty and the substantial change with respect to the previous situation,” he concluded.
After receiving the World Cup as captain of Spain on July 19 in New JerseyRodri “successfully underwent minor back surgery,” City said.
The talented midfielder will need “a short period of rehabilitation,” the English club said.
Trained in the Villarrealwhere he took his first steps as a professional (2015-2018), Rodri spent a season at Atlético de Madrid before signing for City in 2019.
With Pep Guardiola On the bench he became a key piece of the midfield. It reached its zenith in 2024 when he received the Ballon d’Or after becoming European champion with Spain, a year after conquering the Champions with the Citizens.
A serious knee injury since then hindered his career until the World Cup, where he reemerged as the champion’s master key and was chosen the best player of the tournament.
Kompany trusts in its new signings
The coach of the Bayern Munich, Vincent Kompanysaid on Thursday that it will be “really difficult” to improve on last season’s performance, but was hopeful that the new signings can propel the German giant towards its first European title. Champions since 2020.
The Bavarian team achieved the double of Bundesliga and German Cup last season, but was knocked out of the top European competition in the semi-finals against the eventual champion, Paris Saint-Germain.
The exciting 6-5 aggregate defeat prolonged the wait for continental glory in the richest and most successful club in Germanywhere domestic success is often taken for granted.
“Right now I will say that our goal is to win the Champions League,” Kompany assured reporters in Hong Kong before Friday’s friendly against Aston Villa English.
“During the season, I will tell them that we have to focus on the next game, because you can’t win the Champions League in September, you can’t win it in October,” he added.
