After Rodri carry Spain cross for World Cup final, na im be say both Barcelona and Real Madrid don begin dey fight for im signature. Di 30-year-old midfielder captain di team to beat Argentina wey Lionel Messi dey, and e still take Golden Ball as best player for di tournament.
Rodri don win 13 trophies for im seven years at Manchester City, including four Premier League titles and im own goal for di 2022-23 Champions League final. Next year, e win Ballon d'Or, so e clear say im be one of di best midfielders for world.
According to ESPN, Barcelona and Real Madrid both want am, but im head don turn to Barcelona side. E get one year remaining for im contract with City, and e don dey talk say e want return to Spain one day.
For Barcelona, coach Hansi Flick and sporting director Deco don dey excited about di possibility to sign am. Di club don bin dey hope to get replacement for Sergio Busquets, wey leave for Inter Miami in 2023. Although dem no plan to sign Rodri this summer, as di deal start to look possible, dem accelerate quick quick.
Last week, Barcelona learn say Rodri go prefer dem over Madrid. E bin dey imagined say e go join Madrid, but after winning World Cup alongside eight Barcelona players, and based on Flick’s style plus advice from some Catalans wey don work at City, im mind change.
Club sources say dia don dey loose agreement on personal terms, and dem dey confident say dem go sign am. But remaining hurdle na to strike deal with City. After first offer rejected, negotiations dey go on for final package wey fit reach €70 million. According to BBC, Barcelona don increase bid to £51.4m.
For Madrid side, things bin dey different. Dem bin dey doubt im injury record and coach José Mourinho bin prefer different profile. But after di World Cup, dem change mind. However, last Wednesday, Barcelona come into picture and dem believe say dem don out of race. Some sources say Rodri feel say dem still get doubt about am, unlike Flick wey call am directly.
Man City public stance na say Rodri be key player and dem want am to stay. But privately, dem don know say im want return to Spain. Dem don make point never to hold player wey wan go. Plus im age and contract situation dey matter. If Barcelona or Madrid come with offer above €70 million, dem go likely come to negotiation table.
City don bin dey check potential replacements. Dem dey talk about Tijjani Reijnders, Nico González, and even Ayyoub Bouaddi. Elliot Anderson don arrive from Nottingham Forest, but dem go need more if Rodri go.
According to BBC, Barcelona don increase bid to £51.4m for Rodri. Also, Nottingham Forest dey set to sign Ousmane Diomande from Sporting for £34m. And Cristian Romero wan join Arsenal but Tottenham no allow.
At di end, di matter still dey open. Barcelona dey confident, but City dey wait for acceptable offer. Di transfer window still get time, so anything fit happen.
