Guardiolas counsel tilts Rodri towards Barcelona in €70m transfer saga

Rodri is edging closer to a move to Barcelona after taking advice from Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, with the midfielder understood to have rejected the possibility of joining Real Madrid.

Spanish journalist Melchor Ruiz reported on the radio programme La Tarde, broadcast by Spanish station COPE, that Rodri consulted Guardiola this season about what he should do if forced to choose between Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Guardiola’s response was clear: he believes Barcelona’s style of play would suit Rodri best. The Manchester City manager also made it clear that the final decision had to be made by the player himself.

That advice has reportedly played a decisive part in the thinking of Rodri, who has won both the World Cup and the European Championship with Spain. The midfielder considers Barcelona’s footballing philosophy much closer to the principles he experienced during his years working under Guardiola at Manchester City than the approach associated with Real Madrid.

Contact with Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is also understood to have strengthened Rodri’s preference for the Catalan club.

Ruiz said Rodri can imagine himself joining a familiar dressing room at Barcelona, where he would play alongside Spain team-mates including Pedri and Dani Olmo. That sense of continuity could make him feel as though he were still within the national-team set-up, helping Barcelona’s sporting project appeal to him independently of financial considerations.

Real Madrid had shown strong interest in Rodri since the end of the World Cup. The Spanish club contacted Manchester City to ask whether the midfielder could be made available and received a positive response, according to Ruiz.

Madrid then submitted a formal offer and established a positive understanding during the discussions. However, before negotiations advanced further, Rodri personally informed the club that he appreciated its proposal but preferred to accept an offer from Barcelona.

Real Madrid are said to have accepted the decision in a sporting manner. The focus now is on whether Barcelona can reach a financial agreement with Manchester City.

City are seeking about €70m for Rodri, the same figure they reportedly quoted to Real Madrid during the negotiations. Reaching an agreement with the Premier League club is therefore the final obstacle to completing what would be one of the most significant transfers of the market.

The proposed move remains dependent on that financial agreement, but Rodri’s preference has given Barcelona the advantage after the midfielder weighed the differing footballing projects. Guardiola’s recommendation, his familiarity with several Barcelona players and Flick’s communication with him have all contributed to the decision to favour the Catalan club over Real Madrid.