World Cup winner's City career appears to be winding down
Manchester City midfielder Rodri has agreed personal terms with Barcelona, according to reports, with the Spain international now waiting on negotiations between the two clubs to finalise a transfer.
The 30-year-old, who captained Spain to World Cup glory and collected the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player, looks unlikely to return to the Etihad. That much is now becoming clear.
While nothing is signed and no fee has been agreed, the direction of travel is obvious. Rodri has been a transformative figure for City since arriving in 2019, but the pull of Barcelona — and the chance to follow his World Cup triumph with a move to Catalonia — appears to have proved decisive.
The ball is now in the court of the two clubs' negotiators. City will be keen to secure a fee that reflects his value to a squad that has leaned on him so heavily, but Barcelona's financial constraints are well documented. Whether that leaves room for a compromise remains to be seen.
For City supporters, this is a bitter pill to swallow. Rodri has been the metronome in midfield, the player who makes everything tick, and the thought of lining up without him is a sobering one.
But football moves quickly, and so does the transfer market. If this deal goes through, City will need to find a replacement capable of filling some very large boots indeed.