REUTERS/Bruna Casas
Rodri made his Barcelona debut on Thursday evening as he starred in their La Liga victory against Athletic Club at Camp Nou.
The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner was a man in demand this summer. Rodri was wanted by both Barcelona and Real Madrid following his heroics for Spain at the 2026 World Cup.
Rodri, considered one of the very best players in world football, had his heart set on a move to the Catalan giants, and he completed a £65m move from Manchester City earlier this month.
The 30-year-old was included in Barcelona's squad for the first time on Friday as he was named on the bench against Athletic Club. The home fans inside the Camp Nou gave him a huge welcome when he entered the fray in the 63rd minute.
He played the final 27 minutes as the reigning La Liga champions won 2-0 courtesy of goals from Raphinha and Fermin Lopez.
Spanish Media Make Rodri Feelings Clear
REUTERS/Bruna Casas
Rodri impressed the Spanish media despite his limited time on the pitch. AS wrote:
"The world champion has landed on his feet at Barça. He played 27 minutes and was involved in 29 plays. It was the Rodri everyone knows. He always offered himself as an option for building attacks and was eager to take on responsibility.
"He had an 88% pass completion rate, which rose to 93% in his own half. He attempted a long pass and it landed perfectly. Defensively, he made a clearance and won back possession.
Mundo Deportivo used one word to describe him: 'Conqueror'. They added: "He gradually settled in and adopted the Barça style. He had time to make some excellent passes and add pace to the team's attacking play. He won over the Camp Nou."
While Barca Universal gave him a rating of 8/10, writing: "Making his Barcelona debut, Rodri replaced Bernal and sat in a deep midfield role as the single-pivot and connecting block between defence and attack.
"While his distribution was neat, his importance could be seen in his defensive work rate and how much more stable his presence made the team at the back."
Rodri Speaks Out After Barcelona Debut
via Reuters
Rodri expressed his happiness when he spoke to the media after the match. He said, per Marca:
Rodri could be named in Barcelona's starting lineup for the first time on Monday when the Blaugrana welcome Rayo Vallecano to Camp Nou.