Rodri explains why he left Man City in first words as new Barcelona player

Rodri has said that he is “fulfilling a dream” by joining Barcelona this summer.

The Spaniard is set to complete a move back to his homeland after Manchester City and Barca agreed a fee worth £65million for the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner.

Captured on video as he exited Barcelona airport, Rodri told reporters: “I'm fulfilling a dream.

The midfielder won the Golden Ball at this year’s World Cup as well, with Spain emerging victorious in the final, beating Argentina 1-0 thanks to an extra time strike from Ferran Torres off the bench.

Now, he leaves the Etihad Stadium after seven years, where he won four Premier League titles, scored the winner in Man City ’s maiden Champions League triumph in 2023, and he was part of the treble-winning side that same year.

He also won two FA Cups and three League Cups in his time in the north west.

City have been active in trying to strengthen their engine room this summer, smashing the British transfer record to bring in Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest after the midfielder’s star showings at the World Cup with England.

Enzo Maresca’s side are also locked in talks with Lille over a move to sign the 18-year-old starlet Ayyoub Bouaddi, who wowed fans and scouts alike this summer with his performances for Morocco in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

They also hold interest in Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez, but they missed the deadline that the Blues had set for bids to be submitted by.

Chelsea insisted that any bids for Fernandez needed to match their £120m asking price, with payment structures communicated to interested parties.

The west Londoners wanted all bids to be lodged by 5pm BST last Friday, but none came, and the deadline passed.