Rodri is poised to don his famous No. 16 for Barcelona following an agreement with compatriot Fermin Lopez, who has opted to change his jersey number.
With the transfer nearly finalized, it won’t be long before the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner showcases the No. 16 shirt for Barcelona.
Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano shared this update, revealing that Lopez will now take on the No. 7 jersey at Barcelona.
It was reported just yesterday that Barcelona has struck a deal valued at £65.4 million for the World Cup Player of the Tournament to transfer from Manchester City.
This transfer comes after Barcelona’s previous approaches to acquire the midfielder were turned down by the Premier League club.
The arrangement seems advantageous for both sides; City feels they are securing a substantial fee for a player whose contract has only ten months left.
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Additionally, Manchester City will have to consider the midfielder’s injury issues from the past two seasons.
New City manager Enzo Maresca has highlighted the pressing need for new additions following a significant loss to Arsenal in Cardiff.
City is expected to intensify its search for a new holding midfielder, as Rodri’s move to Spain is likely to be completed within the next 48 hours.
Manchester City has been linked with Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez and Moroccan World Cup standout Ayyoub Bouaddi as potential replacements.
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While both players would necessitate sizable financial commitments, with City preparing to offload Tijjani Reijnders and Rodri shortly, the funds may become available for new acquisitions.
Meanwhile, Rodri will aim to further enhance his impressive collection of trophies as he embarks on what is essentially a homecoming.
Barcelona is targeting three consecutive LaLiga titles, a feat they haven’t achieved since their golden years under Pep Guardiola.
Moreover, the holding midfielder will likely be eager for another chance to claim the Champions League title, especially after scoring the decisive goal in City’s 2023 final.
