Wherever the truth lies, though, this is a crushing blow for Real Madrid in their never-ending tussle with their Catalan counterparts, and they will now have to watch arguably the best midfielder on the planet join their arch nemeses for what is likely to be a bargain fee, albeit Barca’s initial bid was rejected.
Rodri had made it abundantly clear that he would have joined Madrid. “Would I like to play in Spain again, in La Liga, in Madrid? I would like to return, yes, obviously,” he said told reporters in the March international break. Addressing a switch to Real specifically, he added: “You can’t turn down one of the world’s best clubs.” Somehow, though, the capital club has failed to capitalise.
The repercussions of that failure promise to be significant. Rodri could genuinely be the difference between Madrid winning La Liga or finishing second yet again. He would have been transformative as a significant upgrade on Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga, but he is now set to become a seismic signing for Barcelona, where he will ominously link up with world-class options like Pedri, De Jong and Gavi.
As he demonstrated at the World Cup and down the years with City, he is a maestro of the highest order who is capable of orchestrating title wins from the base of midfield. The 30-year-old’s arrival will go some way to ensuring the Blaugrana claim a third league crown in a row, as well as boosting their hopes of ending their 12-year wait to lift the Champions League.
In a less tangible sense, Rodri’s snub is a humbling knock for a club that rarely loses out in the transfer market, and to be beaten by their historic adversaries to such a good value deal will sting even more – especially after the damage done to Madrid’s significant ego when they ceded the league title in a feeble Clasico defeat back in May.
As they risk falling further behind their fierce rivals, Real will be kicking themselves for failing to get this transfer over the line.
