Real Madrid had made a €40 million bid for Manchester City midfielder Rodri before Barcelona swooped in to hijack the move, according to El Chiringuito TV.
The Spanish midfielder is one step away from joining Barcelona, but fresh details have revealed that Madrid made a serious attempt to sign him before he chose their fierce rivals.
The 30-year-old had been on Madrid’s radar for several weeks after it became clear that his future at Man City was uncertain.
Rodri wanted to return to Spain and was reportedly open to joining Madrid, but Barca got to him.
Madrid made an offer of around €45m for the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner. Other reports have suggested the initial proposal was below €40m, but both versions point to Madrid being keen on Rodri.
However, the offer was well below Man City’s valuation.
Barcelona showed a much stronger determination to complete the transfer and reportedly agreed a package worth €60m in guaranteed payments, with another €11m available through add-ons.
Madrid’s interest in Rodri was not simply about monitoring his situation. Los Blancos eventually decided to test the possibility of bringing him to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Rodri would have been an obvious addition to a Madrid midfield that could benefit from his experience, control and ability to dictate the pace of games.
However, Barca offered him a clear role. Manager Hansi Flick wanted an experienced midfielder who could provide leadership and stability alongside the club’s younger players.
Frenkie de Jong’s injury also increased the need for another midfield maestro. In the end, the sporting project was more important than Rodri’s long-standing interest in playing for Madrid.
Madrid’s reported €45m offer also shows that the club weren’t ready to overpay for Rodri.
The Spaniard is one of the best midfielders in world football, but he has already turned 30 and recently recovered from a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Madrid considered the long-term value of such a major investment, but playing a key role in Spain’s World Cup triumph was enough for Barca to break the bank.