Rodri chooses Barcelona over Real Madrid as Manchester City exit takes shape - report

Key Points:

• Rodri has informed Real Madrid that he prefers to join Barcelona if he leaves Manchester City this summer, effectively ending Madrid’s pursuit of the midfielder despite their significant financial offer.
• Barcelona, having monitored the situation for weeks, now have permission to negotiate directly with Manchester City and are prepared to offer Rodri a four-year contract worth around €30 million gross annually, with a transfer fee estimated at €60 million.
• Rodri’s preference for Barcelona is largely football-related, as their style under Hansi Flick aligns more closely with his role at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola, and he has developed strong personal connections with Barcelona players through the Spanish national team.
• Manchester City are preparing for Rodri’s potential departure by advancing a verbal agreement with young midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, signaling their readiness to replace him despite his status as one of the world’s best midfielders.
• Real Madrid will now rely on existing squad members like Aurélien Tchouaméni, Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Güler, and Bernardo Silva to fill the midfield role Rodri might have occupied, as Mourinho believes the team has internal solutions despite Rodri’s unique qualities.