Barcelona seem to have made significant progress in the long-running Rodri operation, with the club edging closer to an agreement with Manchester City.
The club have been in negotiations with the English side for around 10 days now, hoping to agree a transfer fee for the 30-year-old.
Rodri has been very clear about a return to Spain this summer, and Barça eventually beat Real Madrid to the player’s green light.
Now, according to Carlos Monfort, Friday brought several important advances in the deal, and Barça now believe an agreement could be completed during the weekend.
The club’s intention is to have Rodri signed by Monday.
An important phase for the transfer to happen
The optimism follows an intense period of communication between Barcelona and Manchester City.
Barcelona are hopeful of signing Rodri by next week. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
There were several calls and exchanges between the clubs on Friday afternoon as they worked to reduce the remaining differences and find a final structure for the transfer.
That represents an important step forward. Now, Barça appear to believe they are finally close, and with good reason.
The timeline is particularly significant. Barcelona want Rodri officially signed by Monday, which would require the remaining negotiations and contractual formalities to be completed over the weekend.
The 30-year-old will be keen to join his new teammates and start training under Hansi Flick, while Barça may want to present their marquee signing at the Joan Gamper Trophy.
Rodri expecting his future to be resolved
Rodri is not expected to participate in Manchester City training next week because he believes his transfer situation will have been resolved by then.
While this is not a confirmation that the transfer has been completed, it generally means that the player is closing in on an exit.
There is still no agreement between Man City and Barcelona. (Photo by Diego Souto/Getty Images)
Barça gave Ferran Torres similar permission not to appear for training as he worked on closing in on a move to PSG.
The final financial structure will now be crucial.
Barça are signing a ceiling-raising player
Signing Rodri not only improves Barça’s midfield, but the 30-year-old also can improve everyone around him.
For Hansi Flick, Rodri would bring exactly the type of control, experience and tactical intelligence that can elevate an already talented midfield.
Despite being 30, the City midfielder showed at the World Cup that he is still very much at the top of his game as long as he manages to retain his fitness.
There is still work to be done by Barça, but it feels like it might not be long before Rodri is unveiled as the club’s latest signing.