Barcelona are reportedly looking to challenge Real Madrid in the pursuit of Manchester City midfielder Rodri. According to reporting from journalists Pol Ballús and Mario Cortegana of The Athletic, the Catalan club has initiated contact with the player's camp in an attempt to hijack the transfer, which had previously been linked to a move to José Mourinho's side for much of 2026.
The 30-year-old Madrid native is coming off an eventful summer, having played a pivotal role for the Spain squad that secured victory at the World Cup. His club performance has also remained strong; after missing a significant portion of the 2024/25 season due to injury, Rodri made 33 appearances for Manchester City during the campaign before delivering an outstanding performance for his national team.
While Real Madrid has been considered a primary destination for the midfielder, the entry of Barcelona into the race has set the stage for a high-profile transfer battle between the two Spanish giants for the Manchester City star.
Predicting which clubs the summer's biggest free agents will sign for
Tottenham: Why James Maddison was not awarded a penalty against Leeds as Premier League issue statement
