A real transfer “heist.” Rodri postponed renewing his contract with Manchester City until after the World Cup, and, after establishing himself as the tournament’s top player, he sat down at the negotiating table with Real Madrid.
Previous disagreements with the Spanish club appeared to have been resolved, and with a personal agreement reached, all that remained was to agree on the transfer fee demanded by City. Then, on July 28, he received a phone call from Barcelona.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
In a lightning-fast move, the Ballon d’Or winner agreed to join Barcelona, completely ruling out a transfer to Real Madrid. Barring any unexpected developments, Rodri will play at Camp Nou next season.
“Rodri will be a Barcelona player. This morning, the midfielder gave his final ‘yes’ to Barça and will become a Barcelona player in the coming hours. Rodri turned down Real Madrid; he didn’t want to wait any longer, and the player will be a Barça player,” wrote the Spanish media outlet “Jijantes FC.”
“Out of respect for Real Madrid, as they have conducted themselves impeccably, Rodri informed them that his decision is to join Barça,” was the statement from Rodri’s agent, confirming the… perfect heist.
What’s left for the final “deal”?
According to “Sport,” Rodri was one of Manchester City’s highest-paid players. Barcelona will now try to fit his salary into the club’s existing wage structure, while adhering to the salary cap set by the Spanish league.
The Spanish midfielder’s earnings rose significantly after winning the Ballon d’Or, with his annual salary now exceeding 18 million euros. At Barcelona, Rodri would have a contract that reflects his on-field value and status, placing him among the highest-paid players on the roster.
The next step would be negotiations with Manchester City, which has no intention of letting its player go easily and is reportedly demanding a fee of between 55 and 70 million euros for his transfer.
*photo source: AP
