Rodri arrives at Barcelona to complete ‘dream’ move

Rodri, the Spanish World Cup-winning captain, touched down in Barcelona on Monday with the intention of signing a contract with the La Liga champions. The midfielder expressed his delight at the completion of the transfer saga, stating, "I'm very pleased to be here. The last few days have been intense, but I'm glad everything's sorted."

Rodri, now 30, emphasized that playing for Barcelona represents a dream come true for him, noting that he can already call many teammates his friends, having interacted with them during national team matches. The veteran added that his primary objectives at the club would be securing the Champions League and any other achievements that come his way.

The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner arrived in Barcelona the day after Manchester City and Barcelona finalized a €75 million (US$87 million) transfer fee. A source close to the Catalan club confirmed that the deal would be officially concluded in the days to come. Rodri, who has faced injury issues over the past two seasons, shone brightly as Spain claimed their second World Cup title in North America last month.

After seven years of success adorned with numerous trophies at Manchester City, the former Atletico Madrid and Villarreal player reportedly had Real Madrid as a potential destination before ultimately choosing his city rivals.