Hansi Flick’s Barcelona squad already had a host of talented midfield options, and they have strengthened it even further by convincing Rodri.
Barça have reached an agreement with Manchester City to sign the 30-year-old Spaniard, who is set to become the team’s defensive midfielder going forward.
The Catalan club rivalled Real Madrid for his signature and eventually beat them to it, convincing the Ballon d’Or winner with their sporting project.
Understandably, Madrid are bound to be disappointed to miss out on such an elite player, especially to their arch-rivals.
Now, journalist Edu Aguirre has questioned the logic behind the operation on El Chiringuito TV, arguing that Barcelona already have enough quality in midfield.
Rodri signing questioned
Aguirre’s argument centres largely around the depth Flick already possesses in the middle of the pitch.
Barcelona can call upon Pedri, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Fermin Lopez and Marc Bernal, among others.
Edu Aguirre has made an unnecessary claim about Rodri’s Barcelona signing. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Aguirre believes Bernal is already a star in the making and signing Rodri is only going to take game time away from him.
From that perspective, committing close to €80 million to another midfielder appears unnecessary to him, especially when Barcelona have other expensive priorities in the market.
A smokescreen after the Julian Alvarez saga?
Aguirre went further by questioning why Barcelona suddenly decided to pursue Rodri after seemingly having little intention of doing so earlier.
His theory is that Laporta saw an opportunity to beat Real Madrid to a major target and generate excitement among Barcelona supporters at a time when the club’s pursuit of Julian Alvarez has become increasingly complicated.
In his view, signing one of the world’s best midfielders after Madrid had shown interest provides Laporta with an easy political victory and changes the conversation around the transfer window.
However, there is little truth or merit to that narrative, considering Barça are still very much in the race to sign Alvarez.
A clear sporting win for Barça
As much as people want to spin a narrative of Rodri taking game time away from Barça or not being a necessary signing, that is far from the truth.
Rodri is already in Barcelona. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Rodri, at 30, brings immediate control, leadership and experience to a position that the Catalans have struggled with since Sergio Busquets.
Barça never truly replaced the Spanish legend once he left, due to their financial situation, and had to adapt by using Frenkie de Jong in that role.
Marc Bernal is definitely the big bet for the future, but at 19, it might be a tad too difficult for him to be Barça’s only defensive midfielder over the course of a season.
Rodri, at 30, is a short-term bet by Barça. At best, the Catalan club can expect three to four good seasons at the highest level from him.
In many ways, it is a signing very similar to when they signed Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich, and Barça will be expecting a similar impact from Rodri.
By the time the World Cup winner is done, Bernal will be about 23 or 24 and at an age where he is more suited to take the mantle from Rodri.
Unlike what Aguirre believes, Barça have hit the jackpot with Rodri, and it only makes it sweeter that they have beaten Real Madrid to the Madrid-born midfield superstar’s signing.