Barcelona consider Rodri unveiling before Al Ahly Joan Gamper Trophy match

Barcelona are considering presenting Manchester City midfielder Rodri to their supporters at Camp Nou before their Joan Gamper Trophy meeting with Al Ahly, according to ESPN.

The Spanish club is understood to have reached an agreement with Manchester City for the transfer of Rodri, after the English champions accepted Barcelona’s latest proposal for the Spain international.

Rodri is expected to arrive in Barcelona within hours to undergo a medical examination, ESPN reports. If the move is completed as anticipated, Barcelona are considering introducing their new signing to the crowd at Camp Nou before Wednesday’s match against Al Ahly.

The game will be played for the Joan Gamper Trophy and is scheduled to be the final pre-season fixture for both teams ahead of the new campaign.

Barcelona had previously seen two offers rejected by Manchester City. Their initial proposal was worth €45m, while a second bid rose to €60m, but neither was accepted by the Premier League club.

The Catalan side then returned with a third offer worth more than €60m. The package reportedly includes a guaranteed €60m transfer fee, a further €6m in bonuses considered easy to achieve and another €10m linked to more difficult performance-related conditions.

Rodri, who joined Manchester City in 2019, has established himself as one of the world’s leading midfielders. He has played a key role in Spain’s success and has also helped Manchester City win several major trophies, including the Champions League and the Premier League.

The midfielder has made 298 appearances for Manchester City, scoring 28 goals and providing 32 assists.

He also led Spain to victory at the 2026 World Cup, where they defeated Argentina in the final. Rodri was named the tournament’s best player, finishing ahead of Lionel Messi in the voting.

Barcelona are preparing to begin their new season with an away match against Elche in the second round of the league on Sunday. Their opening league fixture was postponed and has been rearranged for Thursday, 27 August, when they will host Athletic Club at Camp Nou.

The proposed presentation would therefore give Barcelona supporters an opportunity to welcome Rodri before the team completes its preparations for the campaign. The player’s medical and the formal completion of the agreement remain the next steps before the transfer can be confirmed.