FC Barcelona may have struck one of the big blows of the summer. By enlisting Rodri, the Blaugranas are strengthening their team with the best player of the last World Cup, the last Euro, and Ballon d’Or 2024. Just that. In addition to having “stolen” a recruit from sworn enemy Real Madrid, since Rodri was initially promised to the Merengues. The reigning Spanish champion finally paid a sum of around 70 million euros to afford the Cityzen, and thus create a particularly impressive midfielder, on paper at least.
And the new Barcelona recruit was presented this Tuesday, in a context of widespread euphoria in Catalonia, where the arrival of the former Atlético player is generating great enthusiasm. The opportunity for him to explain his choice to join Barcelona rather than joining the capital and Real Madrid. “Barça is a very big club, a reference at world level, for its way of seeing football and for the values it represents”first launched the native of Madrid.
“The best decision”
“I had other options, but Barça was the first, and I made that known to Laporta. The first thing was to understand that my stage in my club (Manchester City, Editor’s note) was over, and I had to find a way out. It took me a while to assimilate it. It’s the most special club I’ve ever been to. I studied and analyzed the options, there were very big clubs interested. With my family and loved ones, we made what we think is the best decision. My decisions are always linked to a sporting issue”he added, without directly naming Real Madrid.
And above all, he explained that he believed in the club’s project in the medium to long term. “Barça has grown enormously in recent years. The club has won two leagues in a row, which is very difficult, and is one step away from winning the Champions League. And you don’t just have to look at the present, there is a lot of potential. The midfield is spectacular. We have great players at every position. I want to transmit to the team this desire to continue to improve”indicated the player, who will find Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Dani Olmo or Pau Cubarsi, among others. It now remains to be seen whether Hansi Flick will launch it this weekend against Elche in La Liga, while it should be presented to supporters during the Trofeo Gamper tomorrow.
