Rodri chooses Barcelona project and frustrates Real Madrid, according to Spanish press
News about the future of midfielder Rodri dominates sports coverage in Spain on August 7, 2026. Major newspapers such as Marca, AS, Sport and Mundo Deportivo report that the Manchester City player has signaled positively for a possible transfer to Barcelona, in a move that promises to be one of the most impactful of the current transfer window.
The 30-year-old athlete’s decision draws even more attention because he was one of Real Madrid’s main targets. The club from the Spanish capital tried to advance negotiations to sign the midfielder in recent weeks, but Rodri reportedly opted to join Barcelona’s sporting project.
On the same topic: Rodri gives the green light to negotiate with Barcelona in a surprising move and possible hat at Real Madrid
The newspaper Sport prominently published the headline “Rodri, yes to Barça”, indicating the player’s preference. According to the Catalan publication, the best athlete at the 2026 World Cup rejected Real Madrid’s proposal and advanced talks for a four-season contract with Barcelona. Now, the clubs need to sort out the financial details to make the change happen.
More on this story: Rodri, the highlight of the World Cup, becomes the target of dispute between Barcelona and Real Madrid
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In line, Mundo Deportivo printed a big “Yes to Barça” on its cover. The report informs that Rodri was convinced by Hansi Flick’s technical proposal and has already given his approval for Barcelona to begin negotiations. The Catalan board considers the opportunity to be strategic and is working to find a way to make the high investment viable.
The Madrid press also covered the news. The newspaper Marca opened its edition with “Rodri gives ‘yes’ to Barcelona”, emphasizing the turnaround in a negotiation in which Real Madrid was one of the potential destinations. The newspaper pointed out that the Spaniard decided to prioritize the Catalan club.
The newspaper AS, in its coverage, places Rodri alongside Diomande and Vinicius Junior on a cover titled “A day of crazy people” on the market. Regarding the midfielder, the newspaper points out that he chose to play for Barcelona “to the detriment of Madrid”, although the completion of the operation still depends on Manchester City’s release.
Learn more: Barcelona are looking for Rodri and face resistance from Manchester City for the Spanish midfielder
Real Madrid had been working on signing Rodri to strengthen a crucial position in their squad. Interest intensified after the World Cup, where the midfielder once again shone for the Spanish national team. The player’s preference for Barcelona, therefore, marks a significant change in the European transfer market scenario.
Despite the enthusiasm of Catalan media outlets, the deal is still ongoing. Rodri has a contract with Manchester City, and Barcelona needs to reach a financial consensus with the English club. However, recent publications indicate that the dispute for him has entered a new stage, with the player having already expressed his desire.
