Barcelona’s covert Rodri move leaves Real Madrid on the outside

Barcelona have made a surprise move for Manchester City star Rodri after the midfielder appeared close to joining Real Madrid, with the Catalan club’s intervention changing the direction of the proposed transfer towards Camp Nou.

The striking aspect of the deal is not simply the possibility of Rodri changing clubs, but the extraordinary secrecy surrounding the negotiations. Barcelona are understood to have worked quietly on the move, keeping the discussions away from public attention and preventing significant information from emerging.

Although the situation appeared to develop quickly, the process behind it had been under way for a considerable period. Barcelona’s efforts eventually focused on persuading Rodri to accept an agreement, although the deal had still not been completed in full at the time of the report.

According to Spanish newspaper Sport, Barcelona managed to shift the balance in their favour with almost no leaks. The discussions were conducted under a strict policy of confidentiality, allowing the club to advance its position without drawing the attention that might normally surround a transfer involving a player of Rodri’s stature.

Sport has now revealed a series of exclusive details about how the negotiations progressed, with the proposed move described as being close to a definitive conclusion. However, the report makes clear that the agreement remained unfinished rather than formally completed.

The key events can be traced back to 30 July. After taking several days off in Croatia, Barcelona sporting director Deco had the option of travelling directly to Birmingham to join the club’s training camp.

Instead, he made a different decision. Deco returned first to Barcelona, where he stayed for slightly more than a day before travelling with the rest of the team delegation.

That journey formed part of the discreet work surrounding Barcelona’s attempt to secure Rodri. Rather than allowing the negotiations to become public, the club maintained a low profile while it sought to convince the Manchester City player and move ahead of Real Madrid.

The intervention was unexpected because Rodri had appeared to be on course to strengthen Real Madrid’s squad. Barcelona’s involvement altered that picture, giving the Camp Nou club a route to take control of a deal that had seemed likely to move in Real Madrid’s direction.

The negotiations have therefore been notable for the way they were managed as much as for the player at their centre. Barcelona’s ability to keep the discussions confidential helped the club make progress away from the spotlight, while the final agreement was still being worked towards.