Barcelona director of football Deco has lifted the lid on their surprise summer signing of Rodri, admitting the move was not even on their radar until Manchester City opened the door.
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Rodri’s departure was one of the most startling stories of the summer after the FIFA World Cup winner established himself as the beating heart of Manchester City’s midfield over several years of unprecedented success.
With a year still to run on his Etihad Stadium contract, it was widely assumed that the Blues would keep hold of their Ballon d'Or winner for another season, and perhaps entertain the idea of a free exit in a year.
For a time, it appeared that a move to Real Madrid - well-reported long-term admirers of the Spaniard - was the most likely outcome.
However, that switch failed to materialise, and Rodri pivoted and swiftly wrapped up a stunning move to the Camp Nou instead. Now, Barcelona’s sporting chief has revealed exactly how it all came together.
Hugo Viana has said it will be ‘special’ to face ex-Manchester City stars Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri in the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League after Thursday’s group-stage draw.cityxtra.co.ukMan City Director Viana Relishing Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne Reunions
Hugo Viana has said it will be ‘special’ to face ex-Manchester City stars Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri in the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League after Thursday’s group-stage draw.
Deco reveals the Manchester City call that unlocked a Rodri deal
Speaking about the club’s summer business, Deco admitted Barcelona had initially considered a deal for Rodri to be impossible, only for an unexpected change in circumstances to open the door.
“A few months ago, we didn’t even consider it,” Deco told Spanish outlet Sport.
“We didn’t think he would leave [Manchester] City. We saw it as impossible because he had another year left on his contract. The moment word got out that he might leave, I asked their sporting director."
Deco continued, "He told me that if Rodri decided to leave, they would open the door for him. From that point on, we started working on it.”
The sporting director in question is Manchester City’s Hugo Viana, whose confirmation that the club would not stand in Rodri’s way ultimately paved the way for one of the summer’s most eye-catching transfers.
The Blues sanctioned the exit for a fee in the region of £65.4 million, opting to cash in on a player entering the final 12 months of his deal rather than risk losing him for nothing next year.
If this deal is anything to go by, Hugo Viana will not stray from his predecessor Txiki Begiristain's policy of letting wantaway players go provided an acceptable offer is made to the club.
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and sporting director Hugo Viana believe the club’s hugely successful transfer window has given Enzo Maresca a squad that can compete on all fronts this season, according to new reports.cityxtra.co.ukMan City Officials Assess Enzo Maresca's Squad For Potential Premier League and UEFA Champions League Success
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and sporting director Hugo Viana believe the club’s hugely successful transfer window has given Enzo Maresca a squad that can compete on all fronts this season, according to new reports.
Rodri’s Manchester City legacy
There is no understating what Manchester City lost when Rodri departed. Across seven years at the Etihad Stadium, the midfielder established himself as one of the finest players of his generation, amassing 14 major honours and crowning his individual brilliance with a Ballon d’Or (the only player ever to win that accolade while at the club, to date).
He was, quite simply, the metronome at the base of Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering side.
At Barcelona, he now faces the task of replicating that success, with many viewing him as the natural successor to the iconic Sergio Busquets - a comparison that speaks volumes about his quality, but also about the weight of expectation now resting on his shoulders.
Life after Rodri at the Etihad Stadium is already under way, with Enzo Maresca having overseen a comprehensive midfield rebuild during the summer, with Elliot Anderson, Ayyoub Bouaddi and Enzo Fernandez all arriving to help fill the considerable void.
Whether any of them can come close to matching the influence of the man who left, though, is a question that will take years to answer.