Indeed, according to Oriol Domenech on Catalunya Radio , Barça have started asking about the Spain international and have already spoken with his agents.
Barcelona test the waters
Contact with a player’s camp can be used to understand his situation, contractual position and willingness to consider a move before a club decides whether to proceed.
For Barcelona, however, the profile makes immediate sporting sense.
Rodri to Barcelona? (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Rodri is one of the few midfielders capable of controlling possession, protecting the defence and giving structure to a team at the highest level.
In the aftermath of Frenkie de Jong’s injury, Barça are a little light in terms of control and elite quality in holding midfield, and Rodri could help address the issue.
He would offer the kind of authority in central areas that the Catalans have sometimes lacked when matches become chaotic.
His ability to receive under pressure and dictate the rhythm would fit naturally with the club’s footballing identity.
The Real Madrid angle
The midfielder has also been linked with Real Madrid, which makes Barcelona’s contact with his agents more significant.
Barça and Real Madrid have many contests on the pitch, but it is equally exciting when the two Spanish giants go for the same player in the transfer market.
A team-up at club level too? (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Even so, this would be an extremely complicated operation. Barcelona would need to consider the financial demands, the player’s age, his physical condition and whether Manchester City would be prepared to negotiate.
If anything, at this stage, Los Blancos are ahead of Barça in the race to sign the Spaniard , but that could change in an instant.
Makes a lot of sporting sense
Rodri could help make Barcelona’s backline look more assured merely with his presence in midfield.
He already has a great understanding with Pau Cubarsi, with whom he played for Spain, and the duo could replicate that partnership at club level.
However, it is worth noting that the Manchester City midfielder has suffered many injuries in the past few seasons and is set to undergo another surgery, albeit a minor one.
If Barcelona make a concrete effort to sign him, they need to ensure they know when he is expected to recover from this latest setback, and that could go a long way towards tilting this transfer one way or the other.
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