El Barcelona entra de lleno en la puja por fichar a Rodri

Barcelona has been gaining ground in the pursuit of signing Rodri Hernández, according to sources close to the club. The team is now in a position to negotiate directly with Manchester City for the Spanish central midfielder, a development that did not occur on Wednesday or Wednesday morning. Sources admit that this represents a change from the previous situation, but stress that the operation is far from being finalized and nothing guarantees that the signing will materialize.

This turn of events comes after months in which a Rodri move to Real Madrid seemed inevitable. The white club had been negotiating with City without the talks progressing, and frustration had been growing among both fans and the player over the prolonged process. This tension, combined with the differing conditions of the deal, had created a rift between Barcelona and Manchester City.

However, the club has seized this opportunity, as the relationship between the two entities is now much more fluid compared to their relationship with Real Madrid.

For Barcelona, the main advantage is that once Rodri is signed, agreeing on a price with City should be straightforward. The club believes this points to a significant advantage over Real Madrid, which has been losing its tactical maneuverability in recent weeks. However, the elephant in the room remains the financial aspect. Barcelona cannot afford such a high-profile operation without first generating sufficient revenue.

This is where the departures of Ferran Torres and the pursuit of Julián Alvarez come into play, forcing the club to balance its accounts.

Another factor not discussed openly but equally important is the health of Frenkie de Jong, who is dealing with a knee injury whose recovery timeline ranges from several weeks to four months. De Jong's absence leaves Barcelona with less room in midfield for the demanding upcoming season. This uncertainty provides an additional argument for Barcelona to justify its interest in a player like Rodri, who can fill this position with immediate guarantees.

At 30 years old, Rodri is at the peak of his career. He was named the best player of the recent World Cup, joining a list of accolades that also includes the Champions League and the Ballon d'Or. His name has been repeatedly mentioned in transfer rumors for the past months due to his impressive performance with both the Spanish national team and Manchester City.

Rodri's contract with City runs until 2027, with no immediate exit clause, but the City management appears open to considering offers if the player expresses a desire to leave. For now, Barcelona prefers to keep a low profile on this matter, acknowledging the change in scenario but reminding everyone that everything still depends on whether Rodri decides to move to Barcelona and if Manchester City is willing to negotiate in earnest.