Barcelona close Rodri deal as Real Madrid face growing midfield concerns

Barcelona have reached a final agreement with Manchester City to sign Spain midfielder Rodri, with an official announcement expected within hours after weeks of negotiations and three separate offers.

The reported agreement would give Barcelona one of the most sought-after players in the transfer market, while leaving Real Madrid facing renewed questions over their midfield planning.

According to Spanish radio station Cadena SER, Real Madrid failed to complete a move for Rodri and have not yet made an approach for a replacement capable of performing a similar role.

The club’s decision has attracted criticism in Spanish media, particularly because of the team’s need for a player who can control the tempo of matches, move the ball smoothly and link midfield with attack. Analysts believe Rodri could have fulfilled those responsibilities and improved Real Madrid’s attacking transitions.

Speaking on the programme Carrusel Deportivo, journalist Bruno Alemany said he could not understand why Real Madrid had not acted to strengthen midfield despite recognising the importance of the position.

Alemany acknowledged that Bernardo Silva had performed well in recent friendly matches, but said the Portuguese midfielder could not reproduce every aspect of Rodri’s game.

He described the club’s approach as a repeat of previous errors in sporting planning and said failing to look for an alternative after the Rodri move stalled was “completely illogical”, particularly because Real Madrid had been targeting a midfielder of the highest level.

Journalist Tomas Roncero suggested that manager Jose Mourinho could turn to Bernardo Silva to address the team’s midfield problems. However, he rejected the idea that Rodri was the only player requested by the manager and said there was still uncertainty over why the club had not pursued another midfielder with comparable qualities.

Real Madrid do not currently appear to be planning a move for a new midfielder, despite the availability of players who could perform the role.

One possible alternative is Martin Zubimendi, who is regarded as one of Rodri’s natural replacements in the Spain national team. Even so, Real Madrid are understood to be placing greater emphasis on strengthening their attacking options.

Roncero believes Real Madrid already possess one of the strongest attacks in Europe. However, he warned that an outstanding forward line alone may not be enough to secure major trophies.

Journalist Marcos Lopez pointed to the example of the France national team at the World Cup. France had a powerful attack but struggled when faced with Spain’s control of possession and the rhythm of the game.

That comparison has intensified concerns about Real Madrid’s squad balance ahead of the new season. The club appear to have considerable attacking firepower, but could lack a midfielder capable of providing the intelligence and composure needed to connect the different areas of the team and dictate matches.

For Barcelona, meanwhile, the proposed arrival of Rodri would represent a major addition to their midfield. The final agreement with Manchester City follows several weeks of talks and three offers, with confirmation of the transfer expected shortly.