According to a report from Manchester Evening News, it was mentioned that Manchester City midfielder Rodri is being targeted by Barcelona as they lay the groundwork for signing him this summer. It is understood that the Catalan club are focused on accumulating £80 million for a transfer swoop at the end of this season.
Rodri’s Campaign With Manchester City So Far This Season
Rodri is enjoying a brilliant campaign as he has put in some influential displays at the heart of the Sky Blues’ midfield areas. The defensive midfielder has found the back of the net on two occasions and created five assists over thirty-three appearances for Man City across all competitions.
The Madrid-born sensation has been a consistent and reliable performer for the Mancunian giants in the holding positions of the midfield after averaging 1.7 shots, 1.2 key passes, 2.2 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 1.2 clearances per game in the Premier League. He has also been accurate with his ball distribution after completing 91.2% of his attempted passes in the English top flight (stats via whoscored).
The 26-year-old signed a new five-year deal with Manchester City in the summer of 2022 which will keep him at the Etihad Stadium until 2027. So it won’t be easy for Barcelona to convince him into joining them at Camp Nou at the end of this season.
Should Guardiola Sanction His Exit?
Rodri is a tough tackling midfielder and has a solid presence in the central areas of the field. He can make some crucial interceptions to win the ball back for his side and often clears his lines if the opposition is on the front foot. The Spain international remains proficient in distributing possession to his teammates and can hold onto the ball with confidence. Furthermore, he can strike the ball with power and accuracy from a long range and standing at 1.9 meters, he can dominate his opponents in the air.
Rodri is primarily a defensive midfielder but can operate as a box-to-box midfielder or even as a centre-back if needed which makes him a decent fit for Pep Guardiola‘s squad. He has established himself as a key member of the side becoming a guaranteed starter in the match-day squad. Despite a couple of substandard performances in recent weeks, Rodri has remained at the heart of the Sky Blues’ midfield as Kalvin Phillips continues to struggle to break into the first team ahead of him.
Thus, Guardiola should not let him exit at the end of this season even if the club receives an enticing offer from the Spanish giants as Rodri can definitely add more bite and steel to the midfield department. He will most certainly help them win some top honours and lift more silverware in the near future.
