From Žabljak to Barcelona, ​​Rodri is presented: This is a dream

Rodri arrived in Catalonia, signed a four-year contract and said: "Playing for Barcelona is a dream."

The Spanish midfielder arrived in Barcelona yesterday and completed his transfer from Manchester City, and the two clubs have, according to British media, agreed a deal worth around £65 million.

Thirty-year-old Rodri, who was resting in Montenegro after the World Cup, "sprinting" from south to north, from Porto Novi to Žabljak, signed a four-year contract with the Spanish champions.

"I'm very happy to have arrived. The last few days have been intense, but I'm glad everything has been resolved. Of course, playing for Barcelona is a dream," Rodri told reporters upon arriving at the airport.

The Spaniard is already thinking about what comes next.

"I can't wait to be with my teammates, many of whom I already know from the national team. It's time to work and give my best."

Seven years and 12 trophies in Manchester

Rodri leaves behind seven years at Manchester City, a club he joined in 2019 from Atletico Madrid for a then-record £62,8 million.

He played 298 games for City and won 12 major trophies: four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three League Cups and one Champions League.

It was the 2023 Champions League final that remained one of his most important chapters in a City shirt - he scored the only goal against Inter and helped the club win the European crown for the first time.

A year later, the biggest individual award arrived: the 2024 Ballon d'Or.

His career, however, was slowed by a serious knee injury that caused him to miss a large part of the 2024/25 season, while he was also plagued by problems with his posterior compartment last season.

However, Rodri returned to his best form at this summer's World Cup, leading Spain to their second World Cup title and finishing the tournament as the tournament's best player.

From 38,5 to 65 million pounds

Barcelona completed the deal after several attempts. City rejected an initial offer of £38,5 million last week, but the situation was specific because Rodri only had the final year of his contract remaining.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid was also mentioned as a possible destination, but Barcelona increased the pressure in the final stages of negotiations and managed to persuade City to a deal worth around £65 million.

Essentially, Rodri's wish was decisive - Barcelona before Real.

For the Spaniard, this transfer also has a personal dimension. After seven years in Manchester, he returns to Spain - and to a club that, in his own words, he not only wanted to play for, but dreamed of playing for.