Rodri Hernández rejects Real Madrid and chooses Barcelona as City and Barça negotiate transfer fee

Rodri rejects Real Madrid, chooses Barcelona

Rodri Hernández, the 30-year-old Manchester City midfielder and MVP of the 2026 World Cup, has rejected Real Madrid's offer and decided to join Barcelona, dealing a blow to the Madrid club on the same day it announced the most expensive signing in its history.

Real Madrid had pursued Rodri for two weeks after Spain's World Cup triumph, involving coach José Mourinho in the operation. The club's entire structure worked on the deal, and Rodri's own entourage had initially described the offer as irrefusable, according to El País. Rodri communicated his decision to decline on Thursday, August 6, thanking Real Madrid for their interest.

The timing compounded the frustration for Madrid. On the same Thursday, the club announced the signing of Yan Diomande for €125 million plus €15 million in variables at 4pm, followed by the renewal of Vinícius Jr four hours later. The squad, valued at approximately €1,220 million by Transfermarkt, was meant to be capped with Rodri's signature. Instead, his agent Pablo Barquero called president Florentino Pérez to say the player had chosen Barcelona.

Why Barcelona

Rodri's decision was driven by footballing considerations. The positional play and pressing style of Hansi Flick's Barcelona closely resembles what Rodri knows from Manchester City under Pep Guardiola, who brought him to the club in 2019, and from the Spanish national team under Luis de la Fuente. The Barcelona dressing room already contains eight of his Spain teammates: Pau Cubarsí, Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres, Eric García, and Joan García.

According to ABC, Rodri had doubts about Real Madrid's playing style under Mourinho. Through a former City employee, he let Barcelona know of his interest, and sporting director Deco quickly arranged an offer. Barcelona initially suspected Rodri might be engineering a bidding war to raise his price, but soon realized his motivations were sporting rather than financial. Rodri is from Madrid and, after years living in Manchester, wanted to return to Spain. He dismissed PSG's interest entirely, refusing even to hear their financial conditions.

Transfer fee negotiations

Barcelona began negotiations with Manchester City on August 6. The first offer of approximately €45 million was rejected. ABC reports City asking for €60 million, while La Vanguardia cites British media saying the English club demands around £60 million (€70 million). Barcelona is willing to reach a maximum of €50 million plus incentives, per ABC.

Personal terms with Rodri are set at around €15 million per season over four years, according to La Vanguardia. The relationship between the clubs is described as positive, aided by City executive Ferran Soriano's connections to Barcelona. City has indicated it will not block a player who wants to leave if the right offer arrives.

Physical concerns and reactions

Rodri is vacationing in Ibiza while recovering from back surgery. He missed much of the 2023-24 campaign after sustaining a serious knee injury, and parts of last season were disrupted by a hamstring issue. No return date has been set, and he may miss the start of the league season.

Former Barcelona executive Toni Freixa called for a standing ovation for Rodri in the first league match.

Rodri, I don't know if we need you, nor do I know if your performance will be what we demand of you, but for now, the slap you've given to the most arrogant club in the world and its lackeys in the press deserves a standing ovation from the entire stadium in the first league match.

The Ballon d'Or's official account has suggested Rodri could win the 2026 award as a Barcelona player. He won the 2024 Ballon d'Or and would become Barcelona's 11th Ballon d'Or winner, joining a list that includes Johan Cruyff, Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi, and Ousmane Dembélé.