Rodri will not play for Real Madrid. The deal, which seemed on track since the World Cup ended, took a turn this Thursday and both parties, or rather, all three parties, have confirmed it: the best player of the last World Cup has chosen to try to play for Barça, ignoring the offer made by the white club.
In recent days, during one of the contacts between the club and the player, Rodri informed the directors that he was going to opt for Barça. At Madrid, they seem to have accepted the player’s will without fuss, confident that it is the player’s own desire, and nothing else, that has prevailed in this case. “You have to accept it,” they say in Valdebebas.
They consider at the Bernabéu that they had made a “very good” offer because there was a real interest, they say, in signing him, but it could not be. Also, and as this newspaper was able to confirm, Madrid will not try to sign another midfielder, since Mourinho, they say, is happy with what he has. On the other hand, from the player’s environment, they limit themselves to highlighting the exquisite behavior of Real Madrid and its president throughout this process.
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Now, the next step is for Barça to reach an agreement with Manchester City. Rodri has one year left on his contract, and the English club listens to offers that always start at 50 million euros, although sources familiar with what has happened these days estimate the price of Rodri’s freedom at 60.
It is not a position where Barça is especially in need, not even with the injury of Frenkie De Jong, but apparently Flick is delighted with the possibility of having the captain of the world champion team.
