Barcelona complete blockbuster signing of Ballon d'Or winner Rodri from Manchester City

[p]Coming off the back of winning the World Cup and being named the tournament's best player, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rodri/K0G8DB00/"]Rodri[/a] had been eyeing a move back to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/spain/bLyo6mco/"]Spain[/a] and turned down [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real Madrid[/a] in favour of the LaLiga champions.[/p][p]He will link up with several international teammates at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a], including [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lamine-yamal/lAt3vEub/"]Lamine Yamal[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cubarsi-pau/UgTrNwCF/"]Pau Cubarsi[/a]. He will also form a midfield with fellow Spaniards [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pedri/baBG8QuI/"]Pedri[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/olmo-dani/2oVBOlPg/"]Dani Olmo[/a].[/p][p][b]"I had other options, but for me Barcelona was my first choice. I made that clear to everyone involved[/b]," Rodri declared during his announcement.[/p][p][b]"I’m absolutely fit and ready to play. The surgery was nothing serious. Hopefully I can train tomorrow, put myself under Hansi’s orders as soon as possible - whenever he thinks I’m ready to"[/b].[/p][embed guid="267adb86-1fc7-4e83-8732-4a1e4472ea3e" url="https://x.com/FCBarcelona/status/2089754425812275488" social-type="twitter" /][p]Rodri joined [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]Manchester City[/a] in 2019 and established himself as one of the defining midfielders of this generation during his seven seasons with the club. He clinched four consecutive Premier League titles and one Champions League, as well as being awarded the Ballon d'Or in 2024.[/p][p]"[b]Dear City fans, I found that saying goodbye is one of the most difficult things in life but I am going to try. It’s hard to find the words to express how much gratitude, love and support me and my family have experienced all these years[/b]," Rodri said in a statement.[/p][p]"[b]City didn’t just make me grow as a player. They made me grow as a human. I saw my brother graduating from Manchester Metropolitan University. I could see my girlfriend working for the NHS. Manchester shaped my whole life[/b].[/p][embed guid="4e0a05f8-673a-4135-ab26-2a55754928e4" url="https://x.com/ManCity/status/2089755463961231565" social-type="twitter" /][p]"[b]I will never forget stepping onto the pitch, seeing a sea of blue sing ‘nah, nah, nah, nah…CITY’, taking my scooter into town for a coffee, walking through the parks listening to Oasis and always loving Manchester’s great rain[/b].[/p][p]"[b]So City fans, it’s time to say goodbye, thanks to the club, the fans, the staff and my teammates. This journey couldn’t be the same without you, my heart will always be Blue[/b].”[/p][p]The 30-year-old has also enjoyed major success on the international stage, starring in Spain's victories at EURO 2024 and this year's World Cup.[/p][image alt="Rodri league career stats" id="5a3683ce-f37b-41cf-bb77-4495e9155182" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="4fbc70c2-d598-4a18-9fd2-18dfff49d482" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p]He will look to help Barcelona win a third straight LaLiga crown and end their European drought. They haven't won the Champions League since 2015, and were defeated in the quarter-finals by Spanish rivals [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atl-madrid/jaarqpLQ/"]Atletico Madrid[/a] last season.[/p][p]"[b]It's a pleasure to be at Barca. I'll give 100 percent of everything I have[/b]," Rodri said.[/p][p]"[b]I'm here to compete for everything, for big things like the Champions League[/b].[/p][p]"[b]I've come to a hugely ambitious club that really suits my personality, so I'll try to help in every way I can to achieve our objectives this season[/b]."[/p][infobox id="a9570b4f-da31-4683-ae60-9f920c0540d9" /]